HISTOEY 


OF 


METHODISM 


IN 


PEOYIDEJSTCE,   EHODE   ISLAM), 


ITS  INTRODUCTION  risr 


1787  TO  1867. 


BY  w.  MCDONALD. 


BOSTON: 

&.    FRIDE,    FRINTERS. 
NO.    11    CORNHILL, 

18G8. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFO1 
SANTA  BARBARA 


INTKODUCTION. 

THE  introduction  of  Methodism  into  New  Eng- 
land was  an  epoch  in  its  religious  history,  the 
results  of  which  we  are  unable,  at  present,  fully 
to  estimate.  The  facts  and  incidents  of  its  early 
history  are  deeply  interesting,  but  exceedingly  frag- 
mentary, requiring  no  little  amount  of  labor  to 
collect  and  arrange  in  chronological  order. 

The  preparation  of  this  work  was  commenced  at 
the  request  of  the  "  Providence  District  Preacher's 
Meeting,"  while  the  writer  was  pastor  of  Chestnut 
Street  Church,  and  was  intended,  originally,  to  be 
confined  to  that  church.  But  it  was  thought  best, 
subsequently,  to  extend  the  work  and  include  a  brief 
history  of  the  other  Methodist  churches  in  the  city. 
We  have  done  this  as  best  we  could,  with  the 
materials  at  our  command.  f 

We  have  encountered,  in  the  preparation  of  this 
little  volume,  great  difficulties  in  fixing  the  dates 
of  events  in  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  this 


city.  We  may  not  have  succeeded  in  every  case ; 
but  if  there  has  been  any  mistake,  it  has  resulted 
from  the  impossibility  of  securing  the  desired  in- 
formation. Our  materials  have  been  collected  from 
a  great  variety  of  published  and  unpublished  docu- 
ments, as  well  as  from  the  lips  and  pens  of  many 
still  living.  We  are  under  many  obligations  to  Rev. 
S.  Reed,  Rev.  J.  Livesey,  Rev.  J.  D.  Butler,  Rev. 
R.  W.  Allen,  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela,  Rev.  V.  A.  Cooper, 
Mrs.  Rev.  S.  Heath,  Rev.  S.  W.  CoggeshaU,  D.D., 
Hon.  Elisha  Dyer,  Daniel  Field,  Esq.,  (late  de- 
ceased) and  others,  for  valuable  information.  We 
have  made  the  best  use  we  were  able  of  the  ma- 
terials at  our  disposal,  and  hope  the  result  may  not 
be  entirely  unsatisfactory  to  the  reader. 

w.  MCDONALD. 

BOSTON,  1868. 


HISTOKY 

- 
OF  THE 

CHESTNUT  STEEET  CHURCH. 


EEV.  FREEBORN  GARRETTSON. 

THE  first  Methodist  preacher  to  visit  and  preach  in 
Providence,  was  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  a  native 
of  Maryland ;  born  August  15,  1752.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  faith  of  the  Church  of  England,  but 
under  the  searching  preaching  of  Rev.  Mr.  Straw- 
bridge,  a  Local  Methodist  preacher  from  Ireland,  he 
was  deeply  awakened,  and  in  June,  1775,  was  born 
again.  "  The  blessed  change,"  he  says,  "  I  shall 
never  forget." 

GARRETTSON  FREES  HIS  SLAVES. 

By  the  death  of  his  father  he  became,  without  his 
consent,  a  slaveholder.  For  a  time  his  mind  was, 
from  some  cause  to  him  unknown,  deeply  dejected. 
He  sought  relief  in  prayer.  One  evening,  about 
eight  o'clock,  he  called  the  family  together  for  prayer. 
"As  I  stood,"  he  says,  "with  a  book  in  my  hand,  in 


r      6 

the  act  of  giving  out  a  hymn,  this  thought  powerfully 
struck  my  mind  :  '  It  is  not  right  to  keep  your  fellow 
creatures  in  bondage  ;  you  must  let  the  oppressed  go 
free.'  I  knew  it  to  be  that  same  blessed  voice  which 
had  spoken  to  me  before.  Till  then  I  had  never 
suspected  that  the  practice  of  slave  keeping  was 
wrong ;  I  had  not  read  a  book  on  the  subject,  nor 
been  told  so  by  any.  I  paused  a  minute  and  then 
replied,  '  Lord,  the  oppressed  shall  go  free.'  And  I 
was  as  clear  of  them  in  my  mind  as  if  I  had  never 
owned  one.  I  told  them  they  did  not  belong  to  me, 
and  that  I  did  not  desire  their  services  without  com- 
pensation. I  was  now  at  liberty  to  proceed  in  wor- 
ship. After  singing  I  kneeled  to  pray.  Had  I  the 
tongue  of  an  angel,  I  could  not  fully  describe  what 
I  felt.  All  my  dejection,  and  melancholy  gloom 
which  preyed  upon  me  vanished  in  a  moment,  and  a 
Divine  sweetness  ran  through  my  whole  frame." 

COMMENCES  HIS  ITINERANT  LABOR. 

Mr.  Garrettson  commenced  his  itinerant  labors  the 
same  year  of  his  conversion,  and  for  nine  years  trav- 
eled extensively  through  Maryland,  Virginia,  North 
and  South  Carolina,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware  and 
New  Jersey.  He  preached  with  remarkable  power, 
which  drew  upon  him  a  storm  of  persecution.  Few 


men  suffered  more  than  he.  In  a  letter  addressed  to 
Mr.  Wesley,  he  says,  "  My  lot  has  mostly  been  cast 
in  new  places,  to  form  circuits,  which  much  exposed 
me  to  persecution.  Once  I  was  imprisoned ;  twice 
beaten,  left  on  the  highway  speechless  and  senseless  ; 
(I  must  have  gone  into  a  world  of  spirits,  had  not 
God  in  mercy  sent  a  good  Samaritan,  that  bled  and 
took  me  to  a  friend's  house)  ;  once  shot  at ;  guns  and 
pistols  presented  at  my  breast ;  once  delivered  from 
an  armed  mob,  in  the  dead  time  of  night,  on  the 
highway,  by  a  surprising  flash  of  lightning ;  sur- 
rounded frequently  by  mobs  ;  stoned  frequently  ;  I 
have  had  to  escape  for  my  life  at  dead  time  of  night. 
O  !  shall  I  ever  forget  the  divine  hand  which  has 
supported  me?" 

GARRETTSON  IN  NOVA  SCOTIA. 

At  the  "Christmas  Conference,"  1784,  Mr.  Gar- 
rettson,  through  the  influence  of  Dr.  Coke,  con- 
sented to  make  a  missionary  tour  into  Nova  Scotia, 
and  gather  into  the  fold,  if  possible,  the  shepherdless 
sheep  whom  war  had  driven  into  those  parts.  About 
the  middle  of  February,  in  company  with  James  O. 
Cromwell,  he  embarked  for  Halifax,  and  after  a 
stormy  and  dangerous  passage  of  thirteen  days,  they 


8 

reached  their  destination,  and  commenced  their  labors. 
Mr.  Garrettson  remained  in  Nova  Scotia  about  three 
years,  adding  to  the  society,  during  the  time,  about 
six  hundred  members.  Of  his  labors  and  sufferings 
he  says,  "I  traversed  the  mountains  and  valleys,  fre- 
quently on  foot,  with  my  knapsack  on  my  back, 
guided  by  Indian  paths  in  the  wilderness,  when  it 
was  not  expedient  to  take  a  horse ;  and  I  had  often 
to  wade  through  morasses  half  leg  deep  in  mud  and 
water,  frequently  satisfying  my  hunger  with  a  piece 
of  bread  and  pork  from  my  knapsack,  quenching  my 
thirst  from  a  brook,  and  resting  my  weary  limbs  on 
the  leaves  of  the  trees.  Thanks  be  to  God  !  he  com- 
pensated me  for  all  my  trial,  for  many  precious  souls 
were  awakened  and  converted  to  God." 

GARRETTSON  IN  BOSTON. 

April  10th,  1787,  Mr.  Garrettson  sailed  for  Bos- 
ton, at  which  place  he  arrived,  after  a  perilous  pas- 
sage of  three  days.  He  was  kindly  received  by  a 
few  pious  friends,  and  preached  a  few  sermons  in 
private  houses,  not  being  admitted  to  any  of  the  pul- 
pits of  the  city. 

GARRETTSOX'S  FIRST  VISIT  TO  PROVIDENCE. 

April  17th,  he  left  Boston  for  the  South.  On  his 
way,  he  stopped  at  Providence,  where  he  says,  he 


found  several  who  loved  the  Lord  Jesus.  He  was 
invited  by  Rev.  Mr.  Snow,  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church, — who  he  says,  was  "a  worthy  and 
pious  man," — to  preach  in  his  church,  which  he  did 
twice  to  a  numerous  and  attentive  audience.  These 
it  is  believed,  were  the  first  Methodist  sermons  ever 
preached  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Garrettson  stopped  on  his  way  at  Newport 
and  preached,  by  invitation,  in  the  meeting  house, 
morning  and  evening,  to  a  numerous  assembly,  among 
whom  he  rejoiced  to  find  some,  as  he  believed,  emi- 
nently pious.  He  then  sailed  for  New  York. 

JESSE  LEE  IN  RHODE  ISLAXD. 

August  31st,  1789,  Jesse  Lee  says,  "I  set  out  on 
a  tour  for  Rhode  Island  State,  and  it  was  my  fervent 
prayer  to  God,  that  if  my  undertaking  was  not  ac- 
cording to  His  will,  that  the  houses  of  the  people 
might  be  shut  against  me ;  but  if  my  journey  was 
right,  that  God  would  open  the  houses  and  hearts  of 
the  people  to  receive  me  at  my  coming."  On  the 
3d  day  of  September  he  entered  Rhode  Island,  and 
stopped  at  Mr.  Stanton's,  who  kept  a  coffee  house  in 
Charleston,  Washington  County.  Here  he  preached 
to  a  congregation  of  Seventh  Day  Baptists,  from 
Rev.  3:  20 — "Behold  I  stand  at  the  door  and 


10 

knock."  He  remained  in  the  State  but  four  days, 
and  remarked  on  leaving,  "  I  am  the  first  preacher  of 
our  way  that  has  ever  visited  this  part  of  the  country." 
This,  doubtless,  was  true  of  that  part  of  Rhode  Isl- 
and through  which  he  travelled,  but  it  could  not 
have  been  true  of  Providence,  as  Mr.  Garrettson 
had  preached  here  nearly  two  years  before.  In  fact, 
it  is  quite  certain  that  Mr.  Lee  did  not  preach  in 
Providence  on  his  first  visit  to  Rhode  Island. 

JESSE  LEE'S  FIRST  VISIT  TO  PROVIDENCE. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1790,  Mr.  Lee  made  a 
second  tour  through  New  England.  He  entered 
Rhode  Island  about  the  first  of  July,  and  preached 
in  Newport,  Bristol  and  Warren,  and  on  the  4th 
of  July  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Providence. 
For  some  reason  he  did  not  preach  in  Mr.  Snow's 
meeting  house,  but  preached  five  times  in  some  pri- 
vate house  and  several  times  in  the  Court  House. 

LEE,  GARRETTSON  AND  BLACK  HARRY  MEET. 

On  the  7th,  he  left  the  city  for  Boston,  praying 
that  if  his  journey  to  the  East  was  of  God,  that  the 
houses  and  hearts  of  the  people  might  be  opened  to 
receive  him.  When  about  ten  miles  from  town,  he 
met,  unexpectedly,  his  friend  and  former  fellow  la- 


11 

borer,  Freeborn  Garrcttson,  and  his  traveling  com- 
panion, well  known  in  those  days  as  "Black  Harry." 
Though  unexpected,  it  was  a  happy  meeting. 

"I  had  rode  but  about  thirty  miles,"  says  Mr. 
Garrettson,  "when  I  met  brother  Lee,  and  while 
we  were  sitting  on  our  horses  talking,  an  old  gen- 
tleman rode  up  and  asked  us  to  go  to  his  house  and 
preach  that  night ;  we  went,  and  had  a  comfortable 
meeting,  and  I  also  preached  the  next  morning. 
After  dinner  we  parted ;  brother  Lee  consented  to 
go  to  Boston  and  make  a  trial  there  until  I  could 
send  another  preacher. 

GABRETTSON  AND  BLACK  HABRBY  IN  PROVIDENCE. 

"I  reached  Providence,"  says  Mr.  Garrettson, 
"  about  five  o'clock.  The  bell  rang  and  I  had  an  op- 
portunity of  preaching  in  good  old  Mr.  Snow's 
meeting  house." 

The  next  day  he  had  a  sweet  time  in  retirement, 
and  in  the  evening  addressed  a  larger  congregation 
than  he  had  addressed  the  night  before.  Sunday 
the  llth,  he  preached  with  freedom  in  the  morning 
at  6  o'clock.  "  I  officiated,"  he  says,  "  all  day  for 
good  Mr.  Snow,  and  at  six,  Harry  preached  in  the 
meeting  house  to  more  than  one  thousand  people." 
Mr.  Garrettson  preached  on  the  following  morning 


12 

at  5  o'clock,  to  about  three  hundred  persons.  This 
was  his  last  sermon  in  Providence  for  more  than 
thirty  years.  He  says,  "I  had  a  sweet  time  in  Prov- 
idence. I  had  no  doubt  but  the  Lord  began  a  good 
work  in  many  hearts.  I  left  many  in  tears." 

"Black  Harry,"  as  he  is  called,  who  visited  Prov- 
idence with  Mr.  Garrettson,  and  preached  in  Mr. 
Snow's  meeting  house,  was  so  remarkable  a  charac- 
ter as  to  deserve  a  brief  notice  in  this  place.  His 
proper  name  was  Harry  Hosier.  He  travelled  ex- 
tensively with  Asbury,  Coke,  Whatcoat  and  Gar- 
rettson. He  acted  as  their  servant,  or  driver,  and  is 
said  to  have  excelled  them  all  in  popularity  as  a 
preacher.  Dr.  Rush,  of  Philadelphia,  pronounced 
him  "  the  greatest  orator  in  America."  He  is  de- 
scribed as  "  small  in  stature,  and  perfectly  black, 
with  eyes  of  remarkable  brilliancy  and  keenness,  and 
singular  readiness  and  aptness  of  speech,  though  un- 
able to  read."  It  frequently  occurred  that  the  multi- 
tude preferred  Black  Harry  to  Asbury  himself,  Dr. 
Coke  says  of  him,  "  I  really  believe  he  is  one  of  the 
best  preachers  in  the  world, — there  is  such  an  amaz- 
ing power  attends  his  word,  though  he  cannot  read, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  humblest  creatures  I  ever  saw." 
Mr.  Garrettson  says  of  him,  "I  found  the  people 

v  1.1. 


13 

very  curious  to  hear  Harry.  I  therefore  declined 
preaching,  in  order  that  their  curiosity  might  be  sat- 
isfied." The  Quakers  thought,  as  he  was  unlearned, 
he  must  have  preached  by  immediate  inspiration. 
Through  the  indulgent  hospitalities  which  were  lav- 
ished upon  him,  he  became  temporarily  the  victim 
of  wine,  and  fell.  But  by  repentance,  and  faith  in 
a  forgiving  God,  he  recovered  himself,  and  was  re- 
stored to  the  Divine  favor.  He  at  once  resumed  his 
labors  and  remained  faithful  unto  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  about  the  year 
1810.  "He  was  borne  to  the  grave  by  a  great  pro- 
cession of  both  white  and  black  admirers,  who  buried 
him  as  a  hero,  once  overcome  but  finally  victorious." 

ASBURY  VISITS  PROVIDENCE. 

The  year  1791  is  memorable  in  our  history  in 
Rhode  Island  as  being  the  year  of  the  first  visit  of 
the  venerable  Asbury  to  this  State.  He  entered 
Providence  Sunday,  June  19,  and  in  the  A.  M.  at- 
tended the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  M ,  a  Baptist, 

and  hi  the  P.  M.  that  of  Rev.  Mr.  S ,  whom 

he  styles  a  "New  Light."  The  Baptist  minister 
whom  he  heard  hi  the  forenoon,  was  Rev.  Jonathan 
Maxcy,  the  youthful  pastor  of  the  1st  Baptist  Church, 


14 

and  successor  of  Dr.  Manning,  the  first  President 
of  Brown  University.  Dr.  Manning  resigned  his 
charge  about  this  time,  and  Mr.  Maxcy,  a  tutor  in 
Brown,  and  a  youth  of  twenty-three  years,  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  church ;  and  subsequently,  on  the  death 
of  Dr.  Manning,  which  occurred  on  the  29th  of  the 
following  month,  was  elected  President  of  Brown 
University. 

The  "New  light,"  whom  he  heard  in  the  P.  M., 
was  Rev.  Mr.  Snow,  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  was  a  man  of  a  most  excellent  spirit,  and  highly 
esteemed  by  the  early  Methodist  preachers.  He  was 
a  Whitefield  Congregationalist ;  -had  been  converted 
under  the  ministry  of  that  holy  man — Rev.  Gilbert 
Tennant ; — was  a  man  of  deep  piety  and  apostolic 
zeal.  The  Methodist  ministers  were  always  cordially 
received  by  him,  and  often  permitted  to  preach  in  his 
pulpit.  In  the  evening  Mr.  Asbury  preached  from 
Isa.  61 :  1—3  ;  "  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon 
me,"  &c.  The  place  of  preaching  is  not  mentioned. 
"  I  found,"  he  says,  "  a  few  gracious  souls,  and  some 
seeking.  It  has  been  a  season  of  deep  exercise  with 
me  while  here.  I  have  had  some  weighty  sensations. 
I  think  the  Lord  will  revive  his  work  in  Providence." 
Monday  forenoon  he  visited  some  serious  families. 


15 

"The  afternoon,"  he  says,  "I  spent  very  agreeably 
with  the  old  prophet,  Mr.  Snow,  aged  about  seventy 
years.  He  was  awakened  through  the  instrumentality 
of  Gilbert  Tennant,  whose  memory  I  revere.  He 
told  me  much  about  Mr.  Whitefield,  and  old  times, 
and  of  the  ministers  of  old  times  ; — of  himself,  his 
awakening  and  conversion  to  God  ;  —  of  his  riding 
thirty  miles  to  Newport,  in  exceeding  cold  weather, 
to  bring  Mr.  Tennant  to  Providence." 

"  Having  obtained  more  knowledge  of  the  people," 
he  says,  "my  subject  was  Gal.  6  :  14 ;  "But  God 
forbid  that  I  should  glory,"  &c.  The  sermon  was 
"  plain  and  pointed,  and  the  audience  was  serious  and 
attentive."  The  following  is  the  plan  of  his  sermon  : 

"  I  endeavored  to  show  : 

1.  What  it  is  for  a  man  to  glory  in  a  thing. 

2.  What  men  glory  in,  which  is  not  the  cross  of 

Christ. 

3.  What  it  is  to  glory  in  the  cross  of  Christ. 

4.  How  a  person  may  know  when  he  glories  in 
the  cross  of  Christ,  viz  :  by  the  world  being  crucified 
to  him,  and  he  unto  the  world." 

He  continues  :  "  The  people  here  appear  to  be  pru- 
dent, active,  frugal ;  cultivating  a  spirit  of  good  fam- 
ily economy  ;  and  they  are  kind  to  strangers.  They 


16 

have  had  frequent  revivals  of  religion.  I  had  faith 
to  believe  the  Lord  would  shortly  visit  them  again, 
and  that  even  we  shall  have  something  to  do  in  this 
town." 

TILE  FIRST  CIRCUIT  PREACHER. 

In  1792  Providence  appears  on  the  "Minutes"  for 
the  first  time,  with  Lemuel  Smith  preacher  in  charge, 
and  Jesse  Lee,  Presiding  Elder.  There  were  in  all 
New  England  at  that  "time  but  four  circuits,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  members.  Mr.  Smith 
preached  but  seldom  in  the  city,  devoting  most  of  his 
time  and  labor  to  other  and  more  important  parts  of 
the  State. 

Of  Rev.  Lemuel  Smith,  the  first  regularly  ap- 
pointed Methodist  preacher  to  Rhode  Island,  we 
have  very  little  knowledge.  He  joined  the  travel- 
ing connection  in  1788,  and  was  sent  to  organize 
the  Cambridge  circuit,  N.  Y.  His  labors  on  that 
circuit  resulted,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  in  his  return- 
ing to  the  next  Annual  Conference  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-four,  the  most  of  whom 
were  converted  during  the  year.  The  work  spread 
through  all  that  section  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  to  the  frontier  towns  of  Vermont.  In  1789  he  was 
the  colleague  of  the  excellent  Peter  Moriarty,  on  the 


17 

New  Rochelle  circuit.  In  1790  he  was  on  the  New 
Lebanon  circuit,  N.  Y.,  with  Thomas  Everard.  In 
1791  he  was  sent  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  with  the  ec- 
centric, afterwards  apostate,  Rainer.  In  1792  he 
traveled  the  first  circuit  in  Rhode  Island.  The  next 
year  (1763)  he  traveled  the  Litchfield  circuit  with 
the  eloquent  and  indomitable  Ostrander.  In  1794  he 
was  on  the  Tolland  circuit  with  George  Pickering. 
In  1795  he  travels  the  Granville  circuit  with  Zebu- 
Ion  Kankey.  The  next  year  he  located,  and  like 
many  a  man  of  promise  in  those  days,  is  heard  of  no 
more.  Where  he  lived,  and  how  he  died,  we  have 
failed  to  learn.  While  in  the  work  he  was  a  success- 
ful minister  of  the  word ;  but  like  many  good  men 
in  those  days,  was  under  the  necessity  of  retiring 
from  the  itinerant  work  for  want  of  an  adequate 
support. 

In  1793  Providence  was  connected  with  the  Green- 
wich circuit ;  David  Kendall  and  Enoch  Mudge, 
preachers  ;  Ezekiel  Cooper,  Presiding  Elder. 

KEV.  JAMES  WILSON  IS  SETTLED  IN  PROVIDENCE. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  Rev.  James  Wilson 
was  settled  over  the  Broad  Street  Congregational 
Church  of  this  city,  as  colleague  of  Rev.  Joseph 


18 

Snow,  before  mentioned.  Mr.  Wilson's  relation  to 
Methodism,  and  especially  of  the  Methodism  of  Prov- 
dence,  deserves  a  brief  notice  in  this  place.  He  was 
a  Palatine;  born  in  the  city  of  Limerick,  Ireland, 
1760.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  the  famous 
Philip  Guier,  one  of  Mr.  Wesley's  most  devoted 
and  successful  preachers.  He  was  awakened  and 
led  to  Christ  under  the  labors  of  the  famous  Samuel 
Bradburn,  and  soon  after  became  a  member  of  the 
Wesleyan  Society.  In  1783  Mr.  Wesley,  pleased 
with  his  gifts,  sent  him  to  the  Limerick  circuit.  He 
soon  became  a  probationer  in  the  Irish  Conference ; 
but  marrying  before  the  term  of  his  probation  had 
expired,  he  was  returned  to  the  local  ranks,  as  no 
man  was  allowed  to  marry  while  on  probation.  His 
offense  being  not  a  moral,  but  merely  an  ecclesiastical 
one,  he  remained  in  the  connection,  and  maintained 
his  standing  among  his  brethren.  He  entered  into 
business,  and  failing  to  succeed,  took  passage  in  a 
ship  commanded  by  a  Mr.  Warner,  bound  for  Amer- 
ica. He  arrived  in  Providence,  May  27,  1791.  On 
his  arrival  he  was  recommended  by  Capt.  Warner  to 
the  favorable  notice  of  his  friends,  by  whom  he  was 
invited  to  preach  in  a  private  house  in  the  evening. 
This  was  his  first  introduction  into  Providence,  the 


19 

place  which  was  to  be  the  field  of  his  labors  for  nearly 
half  a  century.  Mr.  Wilson  went  South,  and  for  a 
time  preached  in  Baltimore,  in  connection  with  Rev. 
William  Hammett.  Why  he  did  not  enter  the  Amer- 
ican Methodist  connection  at  that  time  is  not  known. 
He  returned  North,  and  in  October  1793,  was  or- 
dained as  Mr.  Snow's  colleague.  Mr.  Wilson  did 
not  long  maintain  the  most  happy  relations  with  Mr. 
Snow,  for  in  less  than  two  years  Mr.  Snow  with 
many  of  his  members  withdrew,  and  formed  what  is 
now  the  Richmond  Street  Church,  leaving  Mr.  Wil- 
son 28  members — 8  males  and  20  females.  The  pov- 
erty of  the  church — being  so  greatly  reduced  in  num- 
bers— rendered  it  necessary  for  Mr.  Wilson  to  teach 
school  in  order  to  secure  a  support. 

Mr.  Wilson  having  been  a  Methodist  preacher, 
necessarily  drew  around  him  most  of  those  whose 
sympathies  were  in  that  direction,  and  he  hoped  no 
doubt,  to  absorb  that  element  in  the  community,  and 
render  it  unnecessary,  if  not  impossible  for  Meth- 
odism to  be  established  in  the  town.  We  can  in 
no  other  way  explain  his  opposition  to  Methodism, 
which  we  shall  have  occasion  to  notice  ;  and  in  fact, 
he  has  been  heard  to  say  as  much. 

In  1794  Providence  was  still  connected  with  the 


20 

Greenwich  circuit ;  Joseph  Lovell,  preacher  ;  George 
Roberts,  Presiding  Elder. 

In  1795  John  Hill  and  Daniel  Bromley,  preachers  ; 
Jesse  Lee,  Presiding  Elder. 

In  1796  Stephen  Hull,  preacher ;  Jesse  Lee,  Pre- 
siding Elder. 

In  1797  Nathaniel  Chapin  and  Wesley  Budd. 
Some  of  these  names  are  familiar  to  American  Meth- 
odism. They  were  heroic  men  in  our  early  Itinerancy. 

PROVIDENCE  A  STATION.— JOSHUA  HALL. 

In  1798  Providence  appears  on  the  minutes  for 
the  first  time  as  a  Station — Joshua  Hall,  preacher  in 
charge.  George  Pickering,  Presiding  Elder. 

Mr.  Hall  supported  himself  chiefly  by  teaching  a 
small  private  school,  on  what  was  then  known  as 
"Tanyard  Lane" — now  Deane  Street.  He  preached 
in  private  houses,  in  the  town  house,  and  in  fact, 
wherever  a  door  was  opened. 

July  26th  of  this  year,  Bishop  Asbury  passed 
through  Providence,  on  his  way  from  Gen.  Lippet's 
to  Warren,  but  does  not  stop  to  preach. 

REV.  MR.  WILSON'S  OPPOSITION  TO  METHODISM. 

Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  had  been  induced,  from  some 


21 

cause,  we  know  not  what,  unless  it  be  the  presence 
of  a  stationed  Methodist  preacher  in  town,  to  publish 
a  book  .against  Methodism,  entitled,  "Apostolic 
Church  Government  displayed,  and  the  Government 
and  system  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  In- 
vestigated," &c.  It  was  a  book  of  no  special  merit, 
and  produced  no  very  great  impression  on  the  public 
mind.  While  Mr.  Asbury  was  in  Warren,  Jesse 
Lee,  who  was  present,  read  to  him  portions  of  Mr. 
Wilson's  work.  Of  it  Mr.  Asbury  remarks ;  "  It 
appears  to  be  the  language  of  two  or  three  men ;  who 
they  are,  I  know  not ;  but  be  they  who  they  may, 
they  are  mild  without  merit,  and  in  some  things  are 
very  simple,  if  not  silly."  The  book  has  long  since 
disappeared. 

FIRST  CLASS  ORGANIZED. 

November  4th,  of  this  year,  Mr.  Hall  organized 
the  first  Methodist  Class  in  Providence.  It  was 
formed,  says  Amy  Remington,  who  was  one  of  the 
number,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ostrander,  on  Chestnut 
Street.  Who  this  Mr.  Ostrander  was,  I  have  failed 
to  learn. 

The  class  was  composed  of  five  persons,  viz., 
Shubal  Cady, — leader,  Annie  Cady,  Amey  Reming- 


22 

ton,  Martha  Clark  and  Mehitable  Potter.  Some  have 
added  Diadama  Tripp  and  Rebecca  Burk.  But  af- 
ter a  very  careful  examination  of  the  matter,  I  am 
satisfied  that  they  were  not  members  of  that  first 
class,  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  but  were  added 
very  soon  after  it  was  formed.  The  members  of  that 
first  class  have  all  passed  away. 

Joshua  Hall,  who  has  the  honor  of  forming  the 
first  class  in  Providence,  was  a  man  of  marked 
ability.  He  had  few  superiors  in  the  pulpit.  I 
shall  never  forget  his  godly  counsels  and  fatherly  as- 
sistance, when  a  boy  preacher,  I  traveled  the  circuit 
where  he  resided ;  nor  shall  I  forget  the  last  sermon  I 
heard  him  preach,  (then  more  than  eighty  years  of 
age)  which  for  finish  and  brilliancy  I  have  seldom 
heard  equaled.  From  beginning  to  end  it  was  an 
unbroken  string  of  pearls. 

Mr.  Hall  was  somewhat  distinguished  in  the  po- 
litical world,  and  for  a  time  was  acting  Governor  of 
the  State  of  Maine.  He  died  December  25th,  1862, 
aged  ninety-four  years ;  having  preached  the  gospel 
seventy  years. 

Rhode  Island  Methodism  owes  much,  under  God, 
to  Joshua  Hall.  Some  of  her  most  prosperous 
churches  were  organized  by  him. 


23 

The  members  of  that  first  class  deserve  special 
notice.  They  have  all  passed  away,  and  no  special 
record  of  them  remains,  except  the  five  Methodist 
churches  which  have  sprung  from  that  little  seed ;  a 
church  for  each  original  member  of  the  society.  They 
were  brave,  hopeful  and  pious.  Hearts  less  strong 
had  been  crushed  by  the  opposition  which  met  them 
on  all  sides.  They  defended  their  faith  single- 
handed  and  alone,  until  God  sent  them  helpers,  and 
with  them  prosperity. 

SHUBAL  CADY. 

Mr.  Cady,  the  only  male  member  and  Leader  of 
the  first  class,  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  and  well 
qualified  for  such  a  work.  He  was  born  in  Kil- 
lingly,  Conn.,  May  5,  1769.  The  date  and  place 
of  his  conversion  are  not  given.  He  came  to  Provi- 
dence in  1791,  and  was  united  in  marriage,  not  long 
after,  to  Miss  Anna  Earl.  Of  Mrs.  Cady's  charac- 
ter and  death  we  have  but  very  little  information. 
She  was  a  lady  of  remarkably  frail  constitution,  and 
possessed  of  that  peculiar  nervous  temperament 
which  is  sometimes  confounded  with  irratibility,  and 
not  unfrequently  judged  of  incorrectly.  Rev.  Alex. 
M'Clain  used  to  call  her, — with  how  much  justice  we 


24 

are  unable  to  judge, — "Bro.  Cady's  little  wasp."  She 
is  said  to  have  been  a  lady  of  devout  piety.  She 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  class,  but  did 
not  long  survive  its  formation.  Her  death  occurred 
about  the  year  1806.  Such  was  her  natural  feeble- 
ness that  she  could  not  have  been  very  active  in  the 
society.  She  died  in  peace,  and  was  the  first  mem- 
ber of  the  class  to  be  gathered  to  the  Church  tri- 
umphant. 

In  1808,  while  attending  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in 
Portsmouth,  R,.  I.,  Mr.  Cady  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Mrs.  Wait  Tinkham,  of  Freetown,  Mass.,  then 
engaged  in  school  teaching  in  Portsmouth.  She  was 
introduced  to  him  by  the  Quakers,  who  were  numer- 
ous in  town,  as  the  "Praying  Woman."  With  this 
recommendation  Mr.  Cady  was  well  pleased ;  and 
through  all  her  subsequent  life  she  proved  herself 
worthy  of  the  Quaker  title.  Few  women  of  her  day 
gave  evidence  of  stronger  faith,  or  of  more  intimate 
communion  with  God.  Her  prayers  were  mighty 
through  God,  for  she  knew  in  whom,  she  had  be- 
lieved. 

Mr.  Cady's  father, — David  Cady, — residing  in  the 
same  house,  was  a  most  rigid  Baptist,  and  not  at  all 
friendly  to  the  Methodists.  So  bitter  was  his  oppo- 


25 

ition  that  it  was  not  pleasant  for  preachers  to  stop 
at  the  house.  But  frequently  at  night,  Mr.  Cady 
and  his  good  wife  would  let  down  from  their  cham- 
ber window,  bed  and  bedding  to  be  taken  to  Mrs. 
Remington's,  or  Tripp's,  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
Circuit  Preachers,  and  not  unfrequently  food  went 
with  the  couch.  Mr.  Cady  was  a  man  of  faith. 
The  following  incident  is  related  of  him  :  Mr.  Bar- 
stow,  of  Providence,  was  in  his  bake-shop  arranging 
his  oven,  when,  under  powerful  conviction  and  awak- 
ening, he  fell,  and  cried  loudly  for  mercy.  One  and 
another  came  in  and  prayed  for  him,  but  without  any 
relief  to  his  mind,  until  Mr.  Cady  came  in,  knelt  by 
his  side  and  began  to  pray,  when  he  was  almost  in- 
stantly converted  to  God.  Those  who  remember 
him  in  Providence  testify  to  his  uncommon  zeal  and 
Christian  activity. 

In  the  year  1812  Mr.  Cady  left  Providence,  and 
removed  to  Killingly,  his  native  town,  and  for  a  time 
was  engaged  in  tavern  keeping.  But  being  a  strong 
temperance  man,  and  feeling  that  he  could  not  deal 
in  ardent  spirits,  and  that  such  a  house  could  not  be 
maintained  in  those  times  on  strict  temperance  pr  in- 
ciples,  he  abandoned  the  business,  sold  out,  and  re- 
3 


26 

moved  to  Griswold,  Conn.,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

No  sooner  had  he  become  settled  in  his  new  home, 
than  his  ardent  spirit,  in  connection  with  his  "  pray- 
ing" wife,  sought  to  establish  there  the  means  of 
grace.  They  first  invited  their  neighbors  to  come  in 
and  sing  with  them  ;  then  to  unite  in  prayer  ;  then  to 
seek  the  Lord.  Many  were  the  souls  converted 
through  the  labors  of  these  earnest  Methodist  Chris- 
tians. 

Mr.  Cady  was  an  invalid,  and  a  very  great  sufferer, 
for  about  twenty  of  the  last  years  of  his  life.  But  in 
all  his  sufferings  he  kept  up  the  old  Methodist  prac- 
tice of  reading  the  word  of  God,  prayer,  and  fasting. 
He  "did  not  live  by  bread  alone."  He  was  one  of 
those  Christians  who  believed  in  the  power  of  God  to 
slay  and  to  make  alive.  He  departed  this  life  in 
Griswold,  July,  1842,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of 
his  age,  having  been  a  follower  of  Christ  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  Methodism  in  Providence  owes 
much  to  the  irreproachable  character,  constant  faith 
and  burning  zeal  of  Shubal  Cady,  its  first  Class 
Leader.  Peace  to  his  memory. 


27 

AMEY  REMINGTON. 

Mrs.  Remington  was  a  lady  occupying  a  high  so- 
cial position,  being  connected  with  one  of  the  first 
families  of  the  State.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Elizabeth  Jones,  born  in  Newport  R.  I., 
March  26,  1750.  She  was  the  sister  of  Hon.  Wil- 
liam Jones,  once  Governor  of  Rhode  Island,  and 
grandfather  of  Ex.  Gov.  Dyer,  still  living.  She 
married  (at  what  date  I  am  unable  to  learn)  Capt. 
Remington,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  John 
and  Peleg.  John  was  a  seafaring  man.  He  sailed 
from  Philadelphia,  took  the  small  pox,  and  died. 
Peleg  resided  in  Warwick.  Capt.  Remington  did 
not  survive  many  years  after  his  marriage,  but  died, 
leaving  his  wife  in  very  moderate  circumstances. 
But,  being  a  person  of  an  enterprising  character, 
Mrs.  Remington  resorted  to  school  teaching,  and 
whatever  else  she  could  do  for  a  livelihood.  She 
lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  and  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Peleg,  in 
Warwick,  April  13,  1830.  Her  remains  were 
brought  to  Providence,  and  she  was  buried  from  the 
residence  of  her  brother,  No.  270  Westminster 
Street,  and  her  remains  now  lie  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  at  Swan  Point,  waiting  the  call  of  the  last 


28 

trump,  which  shall  summon  her  to  the  possession  of 
that  kingdom  for  which  she  so  ardently  labored. 

Mrs.  Remington  was  a  lady  of  no  ordinary  ability. 
From  what  I  have  been  able  to  learn  of  her  charac- 
ter, she  was  a  person  of  positive  convictions,  of  ar- 
dent temperament,  and  unwavering  faith.  Though 
connected  with  one  of  the  first  families  of  the  State, 
she  joyfully  united  her  religious  destiny  with  a  peo- 
ple then  everywhere  spoken  against,  and  cheerfully 
bore  her  portion  of  whatever  reproach  fell  on  them. 
The  first  class  met  in  her  house,  on  Chestnut  Street, 
where  they  prayed  for  and  encouraged  each  other  to 
hold  fast  their  faith.  Her  house  was  the  common 
resort  of  the  members,  a  kind  of  rallying  point  for 
the  little  band,  where  they  talked  over  socially  their 
prospects  and  discouragements.  These  early  toils 
and  labors  were  the  theme  upon  which  she  delighted 
to  dwell  in  later  years.  There  is  no  doubt  that  early 
Methodism  in  Providence  owes  very  much  to  the 
earnest  labors  and  consistent  faith  of  Amey  Reming- 
ton. She  was  the  leading  female  member  of  that 
brave  band,  and  well  and  ably  did  she  defend  and  il- 
lustrate the  doctrines  she  had  espoused. 


29 

MEHITABLE  POTTER. 

Miss  Potter  was  one  of  the  immortal  five.  She 
was  a  quiet,  unassuming  Christian  lady.  Less  intel- 
lectual and  prominent  than  her  associates,  but  not 
less  humble  and  devout.  She  died  May  1,  1847. 

MARTHA  CLARK. 

She  was  born  in  Providence,  August  21,  1773, 
and  was  about  twenty-five  years  of  age  when  the  first 
class  was  organized.  At  what  time,  or  under  whose 
labors  she  experienced  religion,  we  have  no  informa- 
tion, only  that  she  became  a  Christian  quite  young. 
She  was  a  lady  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  both 
natural  and  acquired.  During  the  latter  years  of  her 
life  she  devoted  much  time  to  writing  and  publishing 
small  tracts.  One,  entitled  "  The  Victims  of  Amuse- 
ments," exhibited  no  little  ability.  She  was  regarded 
by  all  who  knew  her  as  an  estimable  Christian  lady. 
In  her  last  days,  for  some  cause,  she  became  some- 
what desponding ;  but,  at  the  close  of  her  protract- 
ed life,  her  faith  triumphed  over  all  doubt,  and  she 
departed  to  her  rest  in  great  peace,  September  5, 
1858,  aged  eighty-five. 

She  died  at  the  house  of  her  step-sister,  Mrs. 
Thomas  Fletcher.  She  was  never  married. 


30 

Martha  Clark  was  the  last  of  the  original  class. 
She  lived  to  see  the  faith  which  she  embraced  in  early 
life,  when  it  was  everywhere  spoken  against,  triumph 
gloriously.  The  little  one  had  become  a  thousand. 
Her  funeral  services  were  attended  by  Eev.  Joseph 
Snelling,  the  first  Methodist  minister  to  administer 
the  ordinances  of  religion  to  the  little  band,  of  which 
Martha  Clark  was  an  honored  member.  On  the 
whole,  for  intelligence,  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
and  unshaken  faith  in  God,  the  equal  of  that  first 
class  is  seldom  found.  The  fact  that  they  all  held 
fast  their  faith  unto  the  end,  under  such  a  storm  of 
persecution  as  they  endured,  is  quite  remarkable. 
They  "all  died  in  faith,"  some  "not  having  received 
the  promise,  but  having  seen  it  afar  off,  were  per- 
suaded of  it,  and  embraced  it,  and  confessed  that 
they  were  pilgrims  and  strangers,"  and  were  seeking 
a  "better  country." 

In  1799  Providence  was  connected  with  Warren 
and  Greenwich, — Ezekiel  Canfield,  Joshua  Hall,  and 
Freeman  Bishop  were  the  preachers ;  George  Pick- 
ering, Presiding  Elder. 

In  1800  the  circuit  remained  unchanged.  The 
preachers  were  Joseph  Snelling  and  Solomon  Lang- 
don. 


31 

On  the  14th  of  July,  of  this  year,  Bishop  Asbury, 
accompanied  by  Bishop  Whatcoat,  passed  through 
Providence,  but  made  no  stop ;  Bishop  Asbury  re- 
marking, "  The  time  is  not  yet  come." 

In  1801  the  circuit  was  unchanged.  It  was  con- 
nected with  Boston  District,  Joshua  Taylor,  Presid- 
ing Elder ;  John  Finnegan  and  Daniel  Fidler,  Circuit 
Preachers. 

BAPTISM  FIRST  ADMINISTERED. 

May  1st  of  this  year,  Rev.  Joseph  Snelling  ad- 
ministered the  ordinance  of  baptism  to  Diadama 
Tripp  ;  it  being  the  first  baptism  by  the  Methodists  in 
Providence. 

THE  FIRST  COMMUNION. 

There  are  conflicting  statements  as  to  when  and 
where  the  first  communion  service  was  held.  One 
authority  says ;  August  28th  of  this  year,  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  by  Rev. 
John  Finnegan,  the  preacher  in  charge,  at  the  house 
of  Diadama  Tripp,  to  twelve  persons,  five  males  and 
seven  females.  This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first 
instanc^fcwhich  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered 
by  the  Methodists  in  this  town. 


32 

Another  authority,  still  living  (1868),  and  claim- 
ing to  have  been  present  at  the  first  communion,  de- 
scribes it  as  follows  :  "  The  first  communion  service 
was  held  in  the  Court  House.  The  preachers  pres- 
ent were  Joseph  Snelling  and  John  Finnegan.  The 
table  was  arranged  in  the  centre  of  the  room,  with 
glass  tumblers  and  an  earthen  plate  for  the  bread, 
and  a  common  glass  decanter  for  the  wine.  There 
was  quite  a  number  present,  some  of  whom  were  from 
out  of  town.  To  me  it  was  a  memorable  time.  I  was 
quite  young,  and  had  not  made  a  profession  of  relig- 
ion. After  all  the  members  had  partaken,  the 
preacher  invited  those  who  felt  their  need  of  Christ, 
and  were  resolved  to  seek  him  with  the  whole 
heart,  to  come.  No  one  started.  I  felt  my  need  of 
Christ,  and  felt  that  I  ought  to  go.  I  ventured 
alone — walked  the  length  of  the  room,  and  knelt  at 
the  table.  In  a  moment  I  felt  that  Jesus  died  for 
me.  I  felt  that  he  approved  the  act,  and  com- 
forted and  strengthened  me  as  I  had  never  been  be- 
fore." * 

It  is  quite  certain  that  this  was  the  second 
communion  service  held  by  the  Methodkte  in  this 
town,  and  that  the  one  before  referred  f^oid  take 

*  Sarah  J.  Randall,  Worcester,  Mass. 


33 

place  at  the  time  and  place  named.  Our  authority  is 
Amey  Eemington,  one  of  the  members  of  the  first 
class,  who  was  doubtless  present  on  the  occasion. 

In  1802  the  preachers  were  Reuben  Hubbard,  Ca- 
leb Morris,  and  Allen  H.  Cobb. 

In  1803  Providence  is  an  extensive  circuit.  Alex. 
McLane  and  Noble  W.  Thomas  are  the  preachers ; 
George  Pickering,  Presiding  Elder. 

THE  FIEST  QUARTERLY  MEETING. 

August  12th  and  13th  of  this  year,  the  first  Quarterly 
Meeting,  so  much  prized  by  the  early  Methodists, 
was  held  in  this  town.  It  was  held,  as  were  most  of 
their  public  meetings  at  this  time,  in  the  Town 
House.  The  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  George  Picker- 
ing, preached  on  the  occasion,  and  administered  the 
Sacrament.  It  was  a  memorable  season.  The  so- 
ciety was  greatly  encouraged,  and  the  prospect  before 
them  seemed  more  hopeful. 

TOWN  HOUSE. 

The  Town  House,  so  often  referred  to,  in  which 
the  early  Methodist  preachers  preached,  was  an  old 
Congregational  church,  corner  of  College  and  Benefit 
Streets,  which  had  been  purchased  by  the  town  for  a 


34 

Town  House.     It  was  used  by  all  denominations  not 
having  churches. 

In  1804  the  preachers  were  Asa  Pattie,  D. 
Burge,  and  Clement  Parker. 

DR.    COKE    VISITS   PROVIDENCE. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  Dr.  Coke,  the  first 
Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the 
first  Protestant  Bishop  of  the  New  World,  visited 
Providence.  He  landed  at  Newport,  from  New 
York,  June,  1804.  From  Newport  he  came  to 
Bristol,  where  he  was  entertained  by  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Pearce,  known  as  Father  Pearce.  The  rec- 
tor of  the  Episcopal  Church,  after  being  satisfied  that 
the  Doctor  had  been  Episcopally  ordained,  was  a 
Presbyter  of  the  English  Church,  a  graduate  of  Ox- 
ford, and  a  Doctor  of  Law,  consented  that  he  should 
preach  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  on  the  further  con- 
dition that  Capt.  Pearce  should  blow  out  the  candles 
at  the  close  of  the  service,  it  being  the  first  evening 
service  ever  held  in  the  church.  Father  Pearce  con- 
veyed the  Doctor  from  Bristol  to  Providence  in  a 
small  packet.  A  gentleman  in  New  York  had  re- 
quested James  Burrill,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  and  highly 
respectable  citizen  of  Providence,  to  receive  Dr. 


35 

Coke  with  the  regards  due  an  English  Bishop.  Rev. 
Thomas  Lyell,  then  stationed  in  Newport,  accompa- 
nied the  Bishop  to  Providence.  A  crowd  were  as- 
sembled on  the  wharf  to  see  and  welcome  an  Eng- 
lish Bishop ;  among  them,  Shubal  Cady,  the  class 
leader,  who  had  no  thought  of  doing  more  than  get 
a  look  at  the  man  whose  fame  was  world  wide.  Ar- 
rangements had  been  made  for  the  Doctor's  enter- 
tainment at  the  palatial  residence  of  John  Enos 
Clark,  Esq.,  a  wealthy  citizen  of  Providence;  and 
his  carriage  was  in  waiting  at  the  wharf.  As  the 
Doctor  landed,  he  inquired  of  Messrs.  Clark  and 
Burrill  if  there  were  any  Methodists  in  town.  They 
shook  their  heads,  and  remarked  that  they  knew  of 
none.  Mr.  Cady,  hearing  the  question  and  answer, 
stepped  forward  and  said,  "  There  is  a  small  class 
here,  but  not  much  known,"  and  at  the  same  time 
introduced  to  the  Doctor  Mr.  Benjamin  Turpin,  at 
whose  house  the  preachers  were  accustomed  to  stop. 
The  Doctor  inquired  where  the  circuit  preachers 
stopped  when  they  came  to  town,  and  being  in- 
formed that  they  usually  stopped  at  Mr.  Turpin's,  he 
expressed  a  desire  to  stop  there  too,  if  convenient ; 
and  being  assured  that  it  would  be  very  gratifying  to 
the  family  to  have  him  do  so,  though  in  compara- 


36 

tively  humble  circumstances,  Mr.  Clark's  carriage 
conveyed  him  to  Mr.  Turpin's  residence,  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  High  and  Stewart  Streets.  The 
house  is  still  standing. 

Dr.  Coke  remained  in  Providence  one  week, 
spending  one  day  in  Boston  during  the  time.  He 
was  preparing  his  Commentary  at  the  time,  and  de- 
voted a  portion  of  each  day  to  that  work.  He  was 
invited  to  preach  in  several  of  the  churches  in  town. 
He  inquired  where  the  Circuit  Preachers  preached 
when  they  came  to  town,  and  being  informed  that 
they  usually  preached  in  the  old  Town  House,  he  re- 
fused all  invitations  to  preach  elsewhere,  until  he  had 
first  preached  there.  He  knew  that  the  Methodists 
in  Providence  were  feeble,  despised  and  persecuted, 
and  he  was  anxious  that  whatever  influence  he  pos- 
sessed should  be  turned  to  their  account. 

Dr.  Coke  spent  one  Sabbath  in  Providence, 
preaching  morning  and  evening  in  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson's 
church.  He  is  said,  by  one  who  heard  him,  to 
have  preached  with  great  power.  The  Doctor  had 
known  Mr.  Wilson  favorably  as  a  Methodist  preach- 
er in  Ireland,  and  Mr.  Wilson  held  the  Doctor  in 
high  esteem. 

The  evening  after  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Lyell  ar- 


37 

rived,  they  performed  a  religious  ceremony  which 
may  somewhat  astonish  us.  A  number  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  class  were  present  to  witness  the  cere- 
mony, which  consisted  in  the  "  washing  of  feet," 
after  the  Apostolic  practice.  They  were  assembled 
in  Mr.  Turpin's  parlor.  Mr  Lyell  called  for  a  basin 
of  water.  Dr.  Coke  sat  in  his  chair  with  his  eyes 
closed,  and  his  hands  clasped.  Mr.  Lyell  knelt  be- 
fore him,  and  proceeded  to  wash  the  Doctor's  feet, 
purely  as  a  religious  ceremony.  At  the  close,  Dr. 
Coke  prayed ;  and,  says  one  who  was  present,  "  The 
blessing  that  came  to  my  heart  in  answer  to  that 
prayer  I  have  not  lost  to  this  day."  (1868.)  This 
may  be  regarded  as  an  illustration  of  the  Apostolic 
simplicity  of  these  holy  men. 

At  another  time,  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  and  a  number 
of  friends  being  present,  Mr.  Wilson  requested  the 
Doctor  to  relate  a  vision  which  he  once  had,  and  of 
which  Mr.  Wilson  had  knowledge  in  the  old  country. 
The  Doctor  did  not  seem  very  much  inclined  to  do  it, 
remarking  that  he  seldom  referred  to  it,  but,  if  they 
desired  him  to  relate  it  he  would  not  object ;  and 
proceeded  to  do  so.  He  arose  from  his  chair,  clasped 
his  hands,  and  said  in  a  very  impressive  manner  that 
he  was  once  very  sick,  and  finally  supposed  by  his 


38 

friends  to  be  dead.  He  felt  that  angels  took  him 
away  from  earth,  and  as  they  bore  him  towards 
heaven  he  seemed  to  be  passing  through  waves  of 
glory  which  forced  him  back.  He  wished  his  at- 
tendants to  carry  him  immediately  into  the  presence 
of  Mr.  Wesley.  But,  as  they  approached  the  gates 
of  the  city,  he  was  stopped  and  informed  by  the  an- 
gels that  he  could  not  enter  now,  but  must  return  to 
earth  for  a  season.  At  this  announcement  he  felt 
regret,  such  as  he  had  never  before  known.  "  Must 
I  return?"  he  inquired.  Being  assured  that  that 
was  God's  will,  he  replied :  "  If  I  must  go  back,  let 
me  go  and  blaze  until  I  die."  In  that  moment  his 
recovery  commenced,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say 
of  Dr.  Coke,  that  he  did  "blaze"  until  death. 

Mr.  Turpin's  house,  during  Dr.  Coke's  visit  there, 
was  thronged  most  of  the  time  with  Methodists  from 
different  parts  of  the  circuit,  to  whom  he  gave  ear- 
nest exhortations,  and  for  whom  he  offered  fervent 
prayers. 

Rev.  Mr.  Lyell,  who  accompanied  Dr.  Coke  to 
Providence,  preached  in  the  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath 
a  memorable  sermon  on  the  sacrifice  of  Isaac.  Mr. 
Lyell  was  a  man  of  uncommon  ability.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  the  Summerfield  of  his  times.  Pie 


39 

joined  the  traveling  connection  in  1791.  In  1797, 
while  pastor  of  the  old  Light  Street  Church,  Balti- 
more, he  was  elected  chaplain  to  Congress,  under  the 
administration  of  the  elder  Adams  ;  and  was  the  first 
Methodist  preacher  elected  to  that  office.  In  1802 
and  1803,  he  was  stationed  in  Boston  with  Rev. 
Epaphras  Kibby.  A  most  remarkable  revival  at- 
tended their  labors.  He  was  next  sent  to  Newport 
for  three  months,  after  which  he  located.  He  subse- 
quently joined  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  (1850)  was  Rector  of 
Christ's  Church,  New  York.  He  was  a  good  man, 
and  retained  his  love  for  his  old  associates  to  the  end. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Turpin,  at  whose  house  Dr.  Coke  was 
entertained,  was  a  Quaker,  but  had  forfeited  his 
membership  by  marrying  out  of  the  society.  He 
was  never  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but 
he  loved  the  early  Methodist  preachers,  and  his 
house  was  the  common  preaching  place  for  many 
years.  Mrs.  Turpin  was  a  member  of  Mr.  Wilson's 
church  until  her  triumphant  death,  which  occurred  in 
1843.  She  used  to  say  that  she  loved  the  very  name 
of  Methodist.  She  was  often  visited  by  Mr.  Wilson 
and  members  of  his  church,  and  urged  not  to  give 
her  influence  in  favor  of  the  Methodists  ;  but  she 


40 

modestly  replied  that  she  felt  it  her  duty  to  stand  by 
the  Methodists.  Few  families  in  Providence  aided 
the  cause  of  Methodism  more  than  Mr.  Turpins', 
though  neither  he  nor  his  wife  were  members. 

In  1805  Rev.  Epaphras  Kibby  was  appointed  to 
Providence.  He  remained  but  a  part  of  the  year, 
and  left,  for  two  reasons,  viz.  :  feebleness  of  health, 
and,  as  he  informed  Hezekiah  Anthony,  because  he 
was  "tired  of  preaching  to  bare  walls." 

In  1806  Providence  was  a  large  circuit  again, 
connected  with  the  New  London  District,  Thomas 
Branch,  Presiding  Elder ;  Pliny  Pratt  and  Joseph 
Smith,  circuit  preachers. 

These  were  dark  days  for  the  cause  of  Methodism 
in  Providence; -but  God  sustained  the  few.  There 
were  many  members  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson's  church 
who  were  not  only  ardent  lovers,  but  firm  supporters 
of  Methodism.  Among  them  were  Mrs.  Turpin, 
before  named,  Nathaniel  Fuller,  Thomas  Young  and 
others.  Mr.  Fuller  was  a  most  devout  lover  of 
Methodism.  Mr.  Young  was  an  artist,  and  possess- 
ing some  wealth,  was  able  to  render  material  aid  to 
the  cause. 

Liscomb  Fuller  united  with  the  society  about  this 
time,  and  succeeded  Shubal  Cady  as  Class  leader. 


41 

He  was  a  valuable  man,  and  for  years  served  faithfully 
the  cause  of  Methodism.  David  Cady,  brother  of 
Shubal,  was  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  church. 
He  was  a  good  man,  and  when  he  prayed  for  fire, 
as  he  often  did,  he  became  a  man  mighty  through 
God.  The  society  held  their  meetings,  chiefly  at 
Mr.  Turpins',  Liscomb  Fuller's,  Amey  Remington's, 
and  the  Town  House. 

In  1807,  John  Tinkham,  preacher  ;  Elijah  R.  Sa- 
bin,  Presiding  Elder. 

JESSE    LEE'S    LAST   VISIT   TO   PROVIDENCE. 

In  1808  Benjamin  P.  Hill  was  preacher  in  charge. 
It  was  during  this  year  that  Jesse  Lee  made  his  last 
visit  to  Providence.  He  left  Baltimore  on  the  31st 
of  May,  for  New  England,  having  been  absent  about 
eight  years.  He  arrived  at  Gen.  Lippett's — his  old 
friend — in  Cranston,  Saturday  the  10th  of  July. 
Here  he  spent  the  Sabbath,  preached  twice,  and  ad- 
ministered the  Lord's  Supper ;  and  had,  he  says, 
"  another  precious  time  of  the  love  and  presence  of 
God."  Tuesday,  12th,  "I  rode  to  Providence  and 
put  up  at  John  Lippett's,  and  at  night  preached 
in  the  Town  House.  I  believe  some  good  was  done 
at  that  time,  and  I  hope  the  fruit  thereof  will  be  seen 


42 

after  many  days.  It  has  been  many  years  since  I 
preached  in  this  town ;  but  I  felt  something  of  the 
same  union  with  the  people  that  I  formerly  felt. 
There  is  a  small  society  in  Providence." 

Early  the  next  day  he  left  for  Bristol  and  New- 
port ;  and  his  voice  is  heard  in  Providence  no  more. 
Eight  years  later,  1816,  Sept.  12th,  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Seller's,  Hillsboro',  Md.,  he  died,  shouting 
"  Glory  !  glory  !  glory  !  hallelujah  !  Jesus  reigns  !  " 
He  was  buried  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  where  his 
mortal  remains  still  rest. 

In  1809  Providence  and  Smithfield  are  united. 
Greenleaf  R.  Norris  and  Pliny  Brett  are  the  circuit 
preachers  ;  Elijah  Hedding,  Presiding  Elder. 

In  1810,  P.  Brett  and  Elisha  Streeter. 

In  1811,  P.  Brett  and  S.  Wingate ;  Joel  Winch, 
Presiding  Elder. 

In  1812,  Benjamin  Sabine. 

During  these  years  the  little  class,  formed  by  Mr. 
Hall,  met,  chiefly  at  the  house  of  Amey  Remington. 
They  sung  and  prayed  and  hoped  for  better  times ; 
but  it  was  "  hope  against  hope."  They  were  regarded 
as  an  insignificant  band  of  wild  fanatics,  who  must 
soon  disappear.  But  they  knew  "in  whom  they 
had  believed." 


43 

In  1813  Providence  was  united  with  East  Green- 
wich circuit.  Daniel  Wentworth  and  W.  Banister 
were  the  preachers. 

ABBY  BRENTON  MUMFOED. 

We  should  do  injustice  to  the  history  of  Methodism 
in  Providence,  did  we  not  pause  here  a  moment  to 
notice  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  devoted  of  all 
the  members  of  the  society  at  this  time, — Abby 
Brenton  Mumford.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Wm. 
Brenton,  of  Newport,  R.  I.,  an  historic  name  in  that 
ancient  city.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  lady  of  su- 
perior education,  great  refinement  of  manners,  of 
deep,  constant  piety,  and  uncommon  devotion  to 
God.  She  was  indeed  a  brilliant  light  in  the  church 
of  her  choice.  Her  influence  was  felt,  not  only  in 
the  society,  but  everywhere.  Not  only  her  voice  but 
her  pen  was  employed  to  set  forth  the  excellency  of 
the  Saviour,  who  had  saved  her  to  the  uttermost. 
She  was  unfortunate  in  her  marriage ;  her  husband 
becoming  a  hopeless  inebriate,  she  became  very  much 
reduced  in  her  circumstances,  and  was  forced  to  de- 
pend upon  her  own  exertions  for  the  support  of  her- 
self and  three  children.  She  received  aid  occasion- 
ally from  Mrs.  Thomas  Ives,  a  schoolmate,  to  whom 


44 

she  was  ardently  attached.  Others  aided  her  more 
or  less,  so  that  real  want  she  never  knew.  When 
Dr.  Coke  visited  Providence,  she  became  so  deeply 
interested  in  his  conversation  and  spirit  that  she  could 
not  be  deprived  the  privilege  of  spending  the  time  at 
Mr.  Turpin's.  She  is  said  to  have  begged  the  priv- 
ilege of  stopping  with  the  family  while  Dr.  Coke 
remained,  that  she  might  enjoy  his  conversation  and 
prayers.  This  favor  was  cheerfully  granted,  and 
no  week  of  her  life  was  to  her  of  greater  spiritual 
profit. 

She  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her,  and  revered 
as  one  of  the  brightest  examples  of  exalted  piety, 
combined  with  superior  intelligence  and  womanly 
modesty. 

She  departed  this  life  in  great  peace,  August  5th, 
1814,  in  the  41st  year  of  her  age. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  of  the  members  of  the  church 
now  living  have  any  distinct  remembrance  of  her. 
It  is  due  that  this  brief  record  of  her  Christian  char- 
acter should  be  made.  She  was  the  grandmother  of 
Mrs.  George  M.  Butts,  of  Providence. 

OTHER   NAMES. 

Three  sisters,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Nancy  Allen,  from 


45 

Greenwich,  joined  the  little  band  about  this  time. 
They  were  devoted,  earnest  Christian  ladies,  and  gave 
all  their  influence  in  favor  of  Methodism.  Sarah 
taught  school,  Mary  and  Nancy  worked  at  some 
trade.  Subsequently  Sarah  became  the  wife  of 
Joshua  Soule,  for  many  years  one  of  the  Bishops  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  but  who,  at  the 
time  of  the  great  pro-slavery  secession  in  1844, 
united  his  fortunes  with  the  slave  power,  and  went 
South.  He  has  recently  passed  to  his  reward.  Mary 
and  Nancy  subsequently  went  South  to  reside  with 
the  Bishop. 

In  1814  Providence  was  a  part  of  the  East  Green- 
wich circuit,  Joel  Steele,  preacher  in  charge. 

Up  to  this  time  the  circuit  preachers  visited  Provi- 
dence but  seldom.  It  was  unproductive  soil.  They 
preached  in  the  Town  House  and  in  private  houses, 
and  wherever  they  could  find  an  open  door.  It 
seemed  very  doubtful  if  the  seed  sown  by  Garrett- 
son,  Lee,  Asbury,  Hall  and  others,  would  ever  pro- 
duce permanent  fruit.  But  God  watched  the  seed. 

In  the  year  1811  or  1812,  Mr.  John  Sutcliff  and 
Samuel  Greenhalgh  came  to  reside  in  Providence. 
They  were  earnest  Christian  men,  and  Methodists. 
They  urged  upon  the  society  the  importance  of  hav- 


46 

ing  some   place  of   worship,  however  small,  which 
they  could  control. 

CAT  ALLEY. 

They  succeeded  in  hiring  a  small  school-house,  sit- 
uated on  what  is  now  known  as  Middle  St. ,  but  called 
in  the  classic  language  of  those  times,  "  Cat  Alley." 
The  building  is  still  standing  (1866),  and  maybe 
seen  in  the  rear  of  Mitchell  &  Magoon's,  Broad  St., 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  in  nearly  all  our 
large  cities,  Methodism  was  cradled  in  a  hovel.  It 
worshiped  in  some  alley,  or  by-place,  quite  unob- 
served by  the  more  wealthy  and  honorable.  But  of 
this  we  ought  not  to  be  ashamed,  when  we  remember 
that  the  Lawgiver  of  Israel  was  a  slave  child,  res- 
cued from  a  rush  ark  in  the  Nile ;  and  the  Saviour  of 
the  world  was  born  in  a  stable. 

From  1811  to  1815,  there  was  preaching  in  this 
little  school-house  once  in  two  weeks,  on  week  day 
evenings,  but  seldom,  or  never,  on  the  Sabbath. 

In  the  fitting  up  of  this  school-house,  the  members 
of  the  society  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  ability. 
Rebecca  Burke  informed  the  writer  that  she  contrib- 
uted the  last  twenty  dollars  she  possessed  toward  fur- 


47 

nishing  seats.     Such  sacrifices  give  evidence  of  their 
deep  interest  in  the  cause. 

In  1815  Providence  was  connected  with  Mansfield 
circuit.  Orlando  Hinds  and  F.  Dane  were  the 
preachers.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  they  visited 
Providence  often.  Everything  seemed  to  be  at  the 
lowest  possible  ebb. 

THE    FIRST    REVIVAL. 

Rev.  Van  Rensselaer  Osborn,  who  was  traveling 
the  Needham  circuit,  having  business  in  Bristol, 
passed  through  Providence,  and  on  Wednesday  eve- 
ning preached  in  the  little  school  house.  Returning 
from  Bristol  on  Saturday,  he  consented  to  remain 
and  preach  on  the  Sabbath.  The  congregation  was 
not  large — only  about  twenty-five  or  thirty — but  it 
was  God's  time  to  work.  In  the  midst  of  the  fore- 
noon sermon  two  young  ladies  of  some  note  in  the 
town,  became  powerfully  awakened,  and  cried  aloud 
for  mercy, — a  new  thing  in  Providence.  The  news 
of  this  strange  phenomenon  spread  with  great  rapid- 
ity through  the  town,  so  that  in  the  afternoon,  the 
little  house  which  would  accommodate  only  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  persons,  was  crowded  ;  and  in 
the  evening,  so  great  had  become  the  excitement, 


48 

there  was  no  room  to  receive  the  people,  "no,  not 
so  much  as  about  the  door ;  and  the  power  of  the 
Lord  was  present  to  heal." 

Mr.  Osborn  went  to  his  circuit,  spent  a  short  time 
with  his  people,  and  returned  to  Providence.  The 
work  had  now  become  so  general  that  there  seemed 
to  be  an  imperative  demand  for  his  labors  here.  A 
petition  was  addressed  to  the  Presiding  Elder,  Rev. 
Asa  Kent,  urging  him  to  permit  Mr.  Osborn  to  take 
charge  of  the  work.  He  came  contrary  to  the  wishes 
of  the  Presiding  Elder,  and  became  pastor  of  the 
church,  Sept.  14th,  1815,  and  for  doing  so  his  char- 
acter was  arrested  at  the  following  Conference,  but 
he  was  successfully  defended  by  Rev.  George  Pick- 
ering. 

The  society  numbered  at  this  time  thirty-three  mem- 
bers. They  were  all  poor,  but  they  were  full  of 
faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Theirs  was  no  unruffled 
sea.  They  encountered  the  most  violent  opposition  ; 
but  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Osborn  their  labors 
were  crowned  with  remarkable  success.  "  We  were 
beaten  down,"  says  Mr.  Osborn,  "  by  every  person 
that  could  lift  a  club  against  us.  The  popular  opin- 
ion was  that  the  Methodists  were  the  oifscourinff  of 

O 

all  things." 


49 


NO  HOUSE    OF   WORSHIP. 

Their  situation  was  exceedingly  unfavorable  for 
gathering  a  society.  "Another  advantage  which 
other  denominations  had  over  us  was,"  says  Mr.  Os- 
born,  "  we  had  only  this  little  school-room.  It  was 
therefore  sounded  through  the  town  that  we  were  like 
the  crackling  of  thorns  under  a  pot,  and  that  in  one 
year  not  one  of  us  would  be  found.  *  See,'  said  the 
multitude,  'they  have  no  house,  and  they  are  so  poor 
that  they  cannot  build  one.' " 

By  these  methods  the  society  was  deprived  of  large 
numbers  of  members  who  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted at  their  meetings.  "  Seven  young  men  at 
one  time,"  says  Mr.  Osborn,  "  were  telling  their  ex- 
perience at  the  Baptist  Church ;  one  after  another 
testified  that  they  were  awakened  at  the  Methodist 
meeting,  until  at  last  the  preacher  arose  and  said,  "I 
do  not  want  you-  to  tell  where  you  were  awakened, 
nor  when,  nor  by  whom ;  tell  that  you  are,  that  is 
enough."  "  I  was  credibly  informed,"  continues  Mr. 
Orborn,  "  by  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  that 
she  had  heard  fifty  persons  relate  their  experience,  all 
of  whom  dated  their  seriousness  from  our  meetings." 
During  that  revival  the  Baptists  received  about 


50 

eighty    members,    and   the    Methodists    only    about 
sixty. 

SACRIFICES. 

There  were  no  sacrifices,  even  under  these  circum- 
stances, which  the  society  was  not  ready  to  make  to 
sustain  the  gospel  among  them.  Mr.  Osborn  says  : 
"  Many  orphan  girls  gave  weekly  a  sum,  which  in 
the  aggregate,  amounted  to  from  six  to  twelve  dol- 
lars a  year ;  and  brethren  who  earned  their  bread  by 
days'  labor  gave  six,  twelve  and  twenty-five  dollars 
a  year."  When  we  consider  the  small  pay  received 
by  day  laborers  in  those  times,  these  are  remarkable 
contributions. 

THE  FIRST    MEETING    HOUSE. 

A  suitable  house  of  worship,  one  which  would  ac- 
commodate the  people,  seemed  to  the  minister  and 
the  society  an  indispensable  necessity.  But  how  to 
procure  the  means  they  knew  not. 

Mr.  Osborn  drew  up  a  subscription  paper,  and 
called  upon  all  the  principal  men  in  the  town,  secur- 
ing what  they  were  pleased  to  give  for  the  object, 
and  then  "  I  called,"  he  says,  "  on  every  one  I  met." 
The  result  of  this  effort  was  $500.00  raised  for  a 


new  church.  With  this  sum  raised,  a  carpenter  was 
employed,  and  the  work  of  erecting  the  first  Methodist 
Church  in  Providence  commenced.  The  house  was 
completed  and  dedicated  to  God,  Sunday,  June  1st, 
1816  ;  sermon  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  V.  R.  Osborn. 

The  house  stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Aborn 
and  Washington  Streets.  It  still  stands  on  the  same 
spot,  and  is  occupied  for  a  dwelling-house. 

We  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  delight  expe- 
rienced by  the  struggling  society  at  the  completion  of 
this  their  first  temple. 

THE   CLOSE    OF  MR.   OSBORN'S   FIRST   YEAR. 

Thursday  of  the  following  week,  Mr.  Osborn  left 
for  Conference — held  that  year  in  Bristol.  He  left 
in  the  society  99  whites  and  12  blacks ;  in  all,  111, 
including  a  few  at  Pawtucket.  This  was  a  great 
work  to  be  accomplished  in  eight  months.  But  the 
work  was  not  complete. 

Mr.  Osborn  was  returned  to  Providence  the  fol- 
lowing year.  On  his  return  he  found  financial  mat- 
ters, to  use  his  own  words,  "in  a  most  distressing 
state."  K^e  left  at  once  for  New  York,  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore  to  collect  funds  for  the  relief  of  the 
society.  After  some  weeks'  absence  he  returned  with 


52 

$800.00.     "This,"  he  says,  "settled  our  creditors 
for  a  season." 

FIRST   QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE. 

It  was  during  the  latter  part  of  August,  or  the 
first  of  September,  that  the  first  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence was  held  in  the  chapel,  and  the  first  in  Provi- 
dence of  which  we  have  any  record.  Rev.  Asa  Kent 
was  Presiding  Elder,  and  Rev.  V.  R.  Osborn, 
Preacher  in  charge.  The  Class  Leaders  at  this  time 
were,  Samuel  Greenhalgh,  Henry  Adams,  Robert 
McFarling,  and  Hezekiah  Briggs.  The  first  board 
of  Stewards  appointed  by  this  Conference  were, 
Lowell  Adams,  Henry  Adams,  Daniel  Keen,  and 
Liscomb  Fuller. 

Lowell  Adams  was  elected  first  Secretary  of  the 
society,  and  Henry  Adams  the  first  District  Steward. 
They  adjourned  to  meet  Nov.  27th,  1816. 

FREE    CHURCH   EXPERIMENT    FAILS. 

Mr.  Osborn  had  been  sanguine  from  the  first  that 
a  free  church  could  be  sustained  here ;  that  a  congre- 
gation could  be  best  collected  by  free  seats,  and  that 
the  poor  would  be  better  provided  for.  But  their 


53 

house,  he  says,  "  soon  became  a  rendezvous  for  every- 
thing that  was  bad." 

To  remedy  this  evil,  as  they  had  no  laws  to  pro- 
tect them,  they  changed  their  seats  into  pews  and 
rented  them.  They  reserved  enough  for  the  poor, 
or  those  unable  to  hire,  and  rented  the  remainder  for 
six  months  for  $240.00. 

About  this  time  many  of  the  society,  on  account 
of  the  severity  of  the  times,  were  obliged  to  leave  the 
town  and  seek  employment  elsewhere. 

During  the  year  10  were  expelled,  15  removed 
and  2  died.  With  those  at  Pawtucket  not  in- 
cluded, there  were  but  47  regular  members  in  society, 
and  many  of  these  were  expecting  soon  to  leave. 

FIRST  SUNDAY    SCHOOL. 

Mr.  Osborn  was  the  first  to  organize  a  Sunday 
School  and  look  after  the  interests  of  the  children. 
"I  resolved,"  he  says,  "to  do  what  I  could  for  the 
children  of  the  little  congregation  that  I  had  col- 
lected. I  therefore,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1815,  formed  a  Sabbath  School  and  put  it  in  opera- 
tion, gccording  to  the  best  of  my  means." 

THE  COLORED  PEOPLE. 

He  interested  himself  for  the  colored  people  of  the 


54 

town.  "  They  were,"  he  says,  "  in  a  deplorable  situ- 
ation. They  had  no  place  of  worship,  nor  was  there 
a  congregation  in  town  which  desired  their  attend- 
ance." He  opened  a  school  for  them,  taught  them 
two  nights  in  the  week  and  preached  to  them  a  third, 
all  gratuitously. 

MR.  OSBOEN    CLOSES   HIS    LABORS    IN  PROVIDENCE. 

Mr.  Osborn's  labors  with  this  church  were  greatly 
owned  of  God.  He  came  feeling  that  God  called 
him.  He  yielded  to  his  impressions,  he  tells  us,  con- 
trary to  his  own  interests,  and  the  judgment  of  his 
Presiding  Elder.  He  took  the  entire  responsibility 
in  building  the  church.  He  saw  dark  and  trying 
times.  "  Sometimes,"  he  says,  "  I  wished  I  had 
never  seen  Providence ;  at  other  times  I  rejoiced 
greatly  at  the  work  of  God ;  however,  I  never  have 
been  truly  sorry." 

During  the  first  year  he  bore  all  his  expenses,  fur- 
nished his  own  clothes,  and  paid  $50.00  towards  his 
board,  and  received  at  the  Conference  $32.00. 

The  second  year  he  received  about  $55.00  from 
the  charge,  while  his  expenses  were  $4.50  per  Mieek. 

The  society  being  poor,  he  entertained  nearly  all 
visitors  and  strangers,  so  that  his  expenses  during 


55    - 

the  year  were  about  $300.  He  sold  his  horse  and 
saddle  and  a  part  of  his  library  to  meet  these  expen- 
ses, and  left  the  town  about  $200.00  in  debt,  which 
he  afterward  paid  by  teaching  school. 

On  leaving  the  charge  he  makes  this  record  :  "  The 
Lord  will  bless  this  little  flock,  for  their  hearts  are 
open  to  do  more  than  is  in  their  power ;  and  I  bear 
them  witness  that  I  leave  them  little  and  humble ; 
and  if  it  were  posssible  they  would  pluck  out  their 
very  eyes  and  give  them  me.  May  the  Lord  ever 
keep  them  humble  and  little  in  their  own  eyes,  and 
prosper  them,  and  may  I,  V.  Rensselear  Osborn, 
meet  them  in  heaven." 

Mr.  Osborn  was  received  into  the  New  England 
Cenference  in  1813,  at  the  age  of  22  ;  having  trav- 
eled under  the  Presiding  Elder  about  two  years. 
His  health  failing,  and  being  unwilling  to  be  consid- 
ered burdensome  to  the  church,  he  asked  and  received 
a  location  in  1823.  He  spent  his  time  chiefly  in 
teaching  in  Manchester,  Conn.,  and  Baltimore,  Md., 
until  1843  ;  his  health  improving  he  was  re-admitted 
into  the  Providence  Conference,  and  continued  to 
labor  with  much  success  until  1846,  when  he  "  ceased 
at  once  to  work  and  live."  He  died  iri  Manchester, 
Conn.,  Sabbath  morning,  Nov.  29th,  184G,  at  4  1-2 


56 

o'clock,  at  the  age  of  56.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  engaged  in  a  gracious  revival.  God  had 
crowned  his  efforts  with  remarkable  success.  On  the 
previous  Sabbath,  Nov.  22,  he  had  preached  with 
remarkable  success.  On  the  same  evening  he  was 
taken  with  a  violent  attack  of  lung  fever,  and  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels.  For  four  days  he  suffered 
much,  but  on  the  5th  mortification  took  place,  and 
on  the  following  Sabbath  he  entered  into  his  rest. 

Death  did  not  find  him  unprepared.  "  I  feel,"  he 
said,  "  a  calm,  sweet  sinking  into  the  will  of  God. 
I  feel  that  all  is  well."  When  asked  if  his  mind 
was  peaceful,  he  quickly  replied,  "  O  yes  !  "  To  his 
daughter,  standing  by  his  bed-side,  he  said,  "  Get 
into  the  chariot,  and  it  is  a  short  road  to  the  New 
Jerusalem.  At  one  time  he  supposed  himself  in 
heaven,  and  began  to  speak  of  the  company  there, — 
of  Moses  and  the  prophets.  Some  one  aroused  him, 
and  inquired  if  all  was  well.  He  replied,  "  O,  yes,  I 
am  sinless  now."  Soon  after  he  fell  asleep.  Thus 
ended  the  mortal  career  of  one  who  did  more,  under 
God,  than  any  other  man,  for  the  establishment  of 
Methodism  in  Providence. 

In  1817  and  1818  Eev.  Solomon  Sias  was  ap- 
pointed to  labor  in  Providence.  Enoch  Mudge, 


57 

speaking  of  Mr.  Sias'  labors  here,  says,  "  They  were 
exceedingly  useful,  both  as  it  regards  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  church  and  society." 
In  1819  Rev.  Moses  Fifield  was  the  pastor.  His 
labors  are  said  to  have  been  useful  to  many.  About 
this  time,  on  account  of  some  trouble  in  Mr.  Wil- 
son's church,  quite  a  number  of  the  members  with- 
drew and  united  with  the  Methodists ;  among  them 
Mr.  Daniel  Field  and  his  wife  Zipporah.  Mr. 
Field,  being  a  man  of  considerable  wealth,  was  a  valu- 
able acquisition  to  the  society.  Has  was  born  1755, 
and  died  1830,  aged  75  years.  He  was  an  uncle  of 
the  late  Daniel  Field,  Esq.,  who,  though  not  him- 
self a  member  of  the  church,  yet  like  his  honored 
uncle  ever  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  its  welfare, 
and  always  contributed  liberally  to  its  support. 

REV.  FREEBORN  GARRETTSON'S  LAST  VISIT  TO  PROVIDENCE. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  Rev.  Freeborn  Gar- 
rettson  visited  Providence  for  the  last  time.  He 
preached  with  satisfaction  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  by  request,  in  Mr.  Wilson's.  Eight  years  later 
this  holy  man,  the  first  of  our  denomination  to  pro- 
claim the  gospel  of  God  in  this  town,  died  in  peace 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age, 


58 

and  the  52d  of  his  ministry.  His  last  words  were, 
"  Holy  holy  !  holy  !  Lord  God  Almighty  !  hallelu- 
jah !  hallelujah!" 

THE  CHESTNUT  STREET  CHURCH  BUILT. 

In  1820  Rev.  Bartholomew  Otheman  was  ap- 
pointed to  this  city.  Few  preachers  have  been  more 
successful.  A  gracious  revival  commenced  during 
Mr.  Otheman's  first  year,  and  very  large  accessions 
were  made  to  the  society.  The  house  in  Aborn  Street 
soon  became  too  small  to  accommodate  the  crowds 
that  nocked  there  to  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord.  A 
more  commodious  house  of  worship  was  felt  to  be  a 
necessity.  A  valuable  lot,  on  the  corner  of  Chestnut 
and  Clifford  Streets,  was  kindly  donated  the  society 
by  Daniel  Field,  Esq.  A  subscription  was  opened 
and  contributions  were  made  so  freely  that  the  Trus- 
tees felt  themselves  justified  in  commencing  the 
work. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1821,  the  corner-stone  of 
the  new  edifice  was  laid  with  appropriate  religious 
ceremonies.  Rev.  Mr.  Lyon,  a  local  preacher  from 
New  York,  delivered  a  most  eloquent  address  from  1 
Samuel,  7  :  12,  "Then  Samuel  took  a  stone  and  set 
it  between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and  called  the  name  of 


it  Ebenezer,  saying,  hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped 
us."  The  pavilion  which  sheltered  the  orator  from 
the  rays  of  the  morning  sun,  was  a  large  umbrella, 
supported  by  Hezekiah  Anthony.  Rev.  B.  Otheman 
offered  prayer.  Bro.  James  Lewis  laid  the  corner- 
stone. And  as  the  early  sun  smiled  approvingly  upon 
this  new  evidence  of  God's  favor  to  his  church,  the 
choir,  with  clear,  full  voices,  greeted  his  rising  with 
old  "Victory"— 

"  Now  shall  iny  head  be  lifted  high, 

Above  my  foes  around; 
And  songs  of  joy  and  victory 
Within  thy  courts  abound." 

It  is  thought  that  "  Old  Victory  "  was  never  sung 
with  more  thrilling  effect. 

In  five  months  from  the  time  the  corner. stone  was 
laid,  the  house  was  completed ;  and  on  the  1st  day 
of  January,  1822,  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
Almighty  God.  The  pastor,  Rev.  B.  Otheman, 
preached  the  sermon  on  the  occasion  from  Num.  23  : 
23,  "What  hath  God  wrought ?"  He  was  assisted 
in  the  services  by  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  District, 
Rev.  Erastus  Otis.  It  is  said  to  have  been  a  season 
of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 


60 

EEV.   JOHN    N.  ^MAFFITT    IN    PROVIDENCE. 

Very  soon  after  the  society  removed  into  the  new 
church,  a  remarkable  work  of  God  commenced  un- 
der the  labors  of  Kev.  John  Newland  Maffitt.  Never 
was  the  capacity  of  this  house  so  fully  tested  as  during 
this  revival.  So  eager  were  the  people  to  hear  Mr. 
Maffitt,  that  hours  before  the  time  of  service,  ladies 
and  gentlemen  from  all  parts  of  the  city  would  take 
then*  stand  at  the  door  of  the  church,  awaiting  its 
opening.  Then,  every  sitting,  standing  and  leaning 
place  would  be  occupied,  and  large  numbers  be 
obliged  to  leave,  not  being  able  to  gain  admittance. 

The  religious  excitement  was  not  confined  to  the 
Methodists.  Episcopalians,  Congregationalists,  and 
others,  seemed,  if  possible,  to  outstrip  the  Method- 
ists. The  Episcopalians,  especially,  seem  to  have 
monopolized  Mr.  Maffitt.  The  interest  was  unlike 
anything  ever  witnessed  in  Providence  before  or  since. 

In  1822  Rev.  T.  Merritt  was  the  pastor.  This  is 
said,  by  Rev.  Enoch  Mudge,  to  have  been  a  "year  of 
great  and  sore  trials ;  but,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
and  the  faithful  labors  of  Bro.  T.  Merritt,  the  church 
has  been  mercifully  preserved  and  blessed." 

The  "trials"  to  which  Mr.  Mudge  refers,  grew 


out  of  certain  scandalous  reports  respecting  the  char- 
acter of  Mr.  Maffitt. 

Mr.  Alex.  Jones  —  the  younger  —  had  published, 
or  caused  to  be  published,  in  the  GALAXY  —  a  paper 
published  in  Boston,  and  edited  by  Joseph  T.  Buck- 
ingham—  some  statements,  or  reports,  reflecting  seri- 
ously on  Mr.  Maffitt.  These  published  reports  occa- 
sioned very  great  excitement.  Mr.  Buckingham  was 
prosecuted  for  an  alleged  libel  on  the  character  of  Mr. 
Maffitt,  and  was  tried  in  the  Municipal  Court  in  the 
city  of  Boston,  before  Judge  Quincy — the  elder  Jo- 
siah.  The  libel  was  not  proved.  The  court  gave 
the  final  decision  unfavorable  to  Mr.  Maffitt,  Satur- 
day night.  Mr.  Maffitt  was  advertised  to  preach  on 
the  following  day  in  the  Bromfield  Street  Church. 
The  excitement  was  intense,  and  it  is  said  that  judge, 
jurors,  lawyers  and  others,  were  present.  Under  the 
irresistible  appeals  of  the  youthfiil  orator  the  whole 
congregation  wept  like  children.  It  was  gener- 
ally conceded  that  Mr.  Maffitt  had  conquered  his  de- 
famers  in  the  pulpit,  though  conquered  by  them  at 
the  bar.  Mr.  Maffitt  immediately,  in  consequence 
of  the  decision  of  the  court,  requested  that  an  Eccle- 
siastical Council  might  be  called  on  his  case.  Ac- 
cordingly a  Council  convened  in  the  city  of  Boston, 


62 

to  consider  the  charges.  Rev.  Elijah  Heckling  was 
President.  After  investigating  such  facts  as  came 
before  the  court,  the  Council  adjourned  to  Provi- 
idence,  to  examine  the  depositions  which  were  taken 
there.  After  a  faithful  and  candid  investigation  of 
the  subject,  the  Council  were  unanimous  in  acquit- 
ting Mr.  Maffitt  of  the  high  charges  alleged  against 
him. 

The  Council  did  discover  imprudence  in  some  in- 
stances, but  having  received  satisfactory  assurances 
from  Mr.  Maffitt  for  the  future,  they  express  the 
hope  that  "age,  experience,  and  divine  grace  will 
correct  his  faults,  and  make  him  an  instrument  of 
great  good." 

At  the  close  of  these  investigations,  Mr.  Maffitt 
preached  a  memorable  and  exceedingly  appropfiate 
sermon  in  this  church,  from  2  Tim.  4  :  14,  "  Alex- 
ander the  coppersmith  did  me  much  evil ;  the  Lord 
reward  him  according  to  his  works." 

It  needed  such  a  helmsman  as  Timothy  Merritt  to 
guide  the  ship  without  harm  in  such  a  storm. 

In  1823  and  1824  Rev.  E.  Mudge  was  stationed 
here.  Under  his  ministry  the  church  enjoyed  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity.  He  was  a  man  greatly  beloved 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  is  even  now  remembered 


63 

by  the  aged  members  of  the  church,  as  an  apostle  of 
goodness. 

FIRST   CONFERENCE    IN    PROVIDENCE. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  June,  of  this  year,  that  the 
New  England  Conference  held  its  first  session  in 
Providence,  in  this  church.  Bishop  George  presided. 

In  1825  Rev.  D.  Webb  was  stationed  in  Provi- 
dence. For  some  reason  he  remained  but  one  year. 
This  year  Providence  reported  200  white,  and  37 
colored  members. 

In  1826  and  1827  Eev.  Asa  Kent  was  the  preacher 
in  charge.  He  was  an  uncompromising  disciplina- 
rian. He  did  his  duty  as  he  understood  it,  without 
regard  to  friend  or  foe.  Some  of  the  members 
thought  his  administration  exceedingly  severe,  but  no 
one  attributed  it  to  any  other  than  honest  motives. 
Providence  was  at  this  time  connected  with  the  New 
London  District ;  Rev.  E.  H.  Hyde,  Presiding  Elder. 
Providence  reported  at  the  close  of  Mr.  Kent's  term, 
194  white,  and  25  colored  members. 

In  1828  and  1829  Rev.  Jacob  Sanborn  was  pas- 
tor. Under  his  ministry  the  church  enjoyed  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity.  The  membership,  at  the  close 
of  his  term  stood, — whites  200,  colored  31. 


In  183Q  and  1831  Rev.  David  Kilborn  was  pastor. 
He  was  a  useful  minister  and  much  beloved  by  all. 
In  1830  Providence  appears  as  a  District ;  Rev.  J.  A. 
Merrill,  Presiding  Elder.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Kil- 
born's  term,  there  were  reported  in  society  270  white, 
35  colored  members. 

THE   E.  K.   AVERT   CASE. 

In  1832  and  1833  Rev.  J.  Horton  was  the  pas- 
tor. These  were  years  of  very  great  trial  to  this 
church.  During  Mr.  Horton's  second  year,  the  fa- 
mous E.  K.  Avery  case  occurred,  affecting  not  only 
this,  but  every  Methodist  church  in  New  England. 
The  members  were  more  or  less  divided  in  their  opin- 
ions as  to  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  Mr.  Avery.  Mr. 
Horton  took  an  active  part  in  his  favor,  which  caused 
more  or  less  unpleasant  feeling  among  the  people. 

POWER   STREET   CHURCH   ORGANIZED. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1832,  a  number  of 
the  more  enterprising  members  of  this  church,  seeing 
the  need  of  a  Methodist  church  on  the  east  side  of 
the  city,  united  in  an  effort  which  resulted  in  the 
erection  of  the  Power  Street  Church. 


65 

In  1834  Rev.  J.  Sanborn  was  again  stationed  in 
this  church,  and  remained  one  year. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence passed  and  placed  upon  its  records  the  following 
resolutions  : 

"Sept.  25,  1834,  adopted  the  resolutions  passed 
by  the  New  England  Conference,  June,  1834,  viz., 
The  qualifications  required  of  such  as  present  them- 
selves for  admission  into  Conference  : 

1.  They  shall  have  read  and  studied  the  whole  of 
Wesley's  Sermons,  together  with  Watson's  Theolog- 
ical Institutes. 

2.  They  shall  be  so  far  acquainted  with  the  rules 
of  English  Grammar  as  to  be  able  to  parse  in  any 
English  author. 

3.  Resolved,  that  from  and  after  the  present  ses- 
sion of  this  Conference,  no  recommendation  for  the 
admission  of  any  one  on  trial  shall  be  considered  in 
form,  unless  it  specify  the  person's  theological  and 
literary  qualifications  according  to  the  foregoing  res- 
olutions." 

Members  in  society,  — Whites  335,  Colored  48. 
In  1835  and  1836  Rev.  A.  D.  Sargeant,  preacher 
in  charge. 


66 


CHESTNUT  STREET  CHURCH  IMPROVED. 

Up  to  this  time  there  was  very  little  about  this 
meeting-house  to  distinguish  it  from  a  barn,  —  no 
steeple,  no  bell  to  call  the  people  to  the  sacred  altar, 
and  no  organ  to  make  melody,  or,  as  it  has  some- 
times done,  discord  within.  All  was  plain,  simple, 
Methodistical.  But  at  this  time  there  was  added  a 
steeple,  —  not  quite  its  present  height,  —  a  bell,  and 
instrumental  music. 

COMMEND   REV.    A.   D.    SARGEANT. 

Mr.  Sargeant  was  highly  esteemed  by  the  people, 
if  we  may  judge  by  a  resolution  adopted  by  the 
Quarterly  Conference  on  his  departure.  They  say  : 
"  We  approve  of  the  ministerial  and  pastoral  labors 
of  Rev.  Aaron  D.  Sargeant  during  his  two  years 
service  with  us,  and  that  all  his  duties  and  deport- 
ment as  a  Christian  minister  and  a  gentleman,  have 
been  commendable,  and  we  part  from  him  with  re- 
gret." 

In  1837  and  1838,  Rev.  Daniel  Fillmore  was 
pastor.  Under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Fillmore  the 
church  was  blessed. 

In  1839  and  1840  Rev.  A.  D.  Merrill  was  pastor. 


67 

Father  Merrill  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  church, 
and  beloved  by  all,  and  the  work  prospered  in  his 
hands. 

PREACHEKS'   AID    SOCIETY    ORGANIZED. 

August  21,  1840,  the  Preachers'  Aid  Society  of 
the  Providence  Conference  was  organized  in  Chest- 
nut Street  Church.  Rev.  B.  Otheman  was  Chair- 
man, and  Rev.  A.  Stevens,  Secretary.  This  year 
the  Providence  was  set  off  from  the  New  England 
Conference. 

Father  Merrill  leaving  the  charge  some  months 
before  Conference,  to  take  charge  of  a  church  in 
Lowell  where  some  difficulties  had  arisen,  Rev.  W. 
H.  Brewster  was  employed  as  a  supply.  He  was, 
at  the  time,  a  member  of  the  New  Hampshire  Con- 
ference, and  was  stationed  at  Haverhill,  which  place 
he  left  to  serve  this  church.  He  was  beloved  by  the 
people  generally  ;  and  an  earnest  effort  was  made  by 
the  brethren  to  secure  his  transfer  to  the  Providence 
Conference,  and  appointment  to  this  charge.  The 
Conference  held  its  session  in  this  church ;  it  being 
the  first  session  of  the  Providence  Conference.  A 
Committee  from  the  church,  composed  of  Hezekiah 
Anthony  and  others,  waited  on  the  Bishops,  — Hed- 


ding  and  Soule,  —  and  urged  Mr.  Brewster's  trans- 
fer as  a  necessity.  Bishop  Hedding  was  willing,  but 
Bishop  Soule  was  inflexible. 

The  West  Church  was  left  to  be  supplied.  Rev. 
David  Patten,  Jr.,  of  the  New  England  Conference, 
was  transferred  to  this  Conference,  and  stationed 
here,  where  he  remained  two  years.  But  to  the 
church  and  pastor  they  were  years  of  great  trial. 

The  refusal  to  appoint  Mr.  Brewster  to  the  charge, 
resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  about  fifty  members, 
and  the  organization  of  the  "First  Wesleyan  So- 
ciety "  formed  in  New  England.  Had  Mr.  Brews- 
ter been  returned  as  was  desired,  very  much  of  that 
trouble  might  have  been  saved.  Mr.  B.  became  the 
pastor  of  this  offshoot,  and  the  members,  feeling  that 
they  had  been  wronged  on  account  of  their  views  on 
the  subject  of  slavery,  were  not  sparing  in  their  de- 
nunciations of  the  Mother  Church. 

"DORR  WAR." 

It  was  during  Dr.  Patten's  pastorate  that  the  first 
great  "  American  Rebellion "  occurred,  familiarly 
known  as  the  "  Dorr  War."  It  was  bitter  and 
bloodless.  The  church,  as  well  as  the  State,  was 
terribly  rent  by  that  political  storm.  But  it  is  ad- 


69 


mitted  that  Dr.  Patten  conducted  the  church  through 
that  storm  with  a  skillful  hand. 

In  1842  South  Smithfield  was  connected  with 
Providence,  and  Rev.  George  M.  Carpenter  was  as- 
sociated with  Dr.  Patten.  Bro.  Carpenter  reported, 
as  the  result  of  his  labors,  one  hundred  conversions, 
and  Dr.  Patten  about  half  that  number.  This  was  a 
good  year. 

REV.   JOEL   KNIGHT. 

In  1843  Rev.  Joel  Knight  was  pastor.  Bro. 
Knight  ended  his  work  and  entered  upon  his  reward 
from  this  charge,  ceasing  almost  "at  once  to  work 
and  live."  His  brethren  say,  "  He  was  a  man  of 
unbounded  benevolence  and  burning  zeal.  Hence, 
in  many  'of  his  appointments  he  met  with  glorious 
success.  His  last  illness  was  very  short  and  very  . 
painful ;  but  God  was  with  him,  and  he  triumphed 
gloriously,  and  now  rests  in  the  bosom  of  God." 

On  the  death  of  Bro.  Knight,  the  church  being 
left  without  a  pastor,  Rev.  Isaac  S.  House,  a  local 
preacher,  formerly  of  the  Illinois  Conference,  was 
invited  to  supply  the  pulpit  during  the  year.  His 
labors  were  profitable  to  the  church. 


70 

In  1844  Rev.  Thomas  Ely  was  the  pastor.  Bro. 
Ely  remained  but  one  year, 

In  1845  Rev.  J.  B.  Husted  was  transferred  from 
the  New  England  Conference  and  stationed  at  this 
church. 

In  1846  the  names  of  the  churches  were  changed 
from  Providence  West  and  East  to  Chestnut  and 
Power  Streets.  Bro.  Husted  was  returned  to  the 
charge,  and  it  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  Par- 
sonage was  built,  he  being  the  first  to  occupy  it. 

In  1847  Rev.  R.  W.  Allen  was  the  pastor.  Dur- 
ing Bro.  Allen's  second  year  the  church  became  more 
or  less  affected  by  a  number  of  the  prominent  mem- 
bers leaving  and  uniting  with  others  from  Power 
Street,  and  forming  the  Mathewson  Street  Church. 
Some  thought  this  enterprise  would  prove  highly  in- 
jurious to  the  old  church.  But  the  opposition  very 
soon  ceased ;  everything  assuming  a  hopeful  aspect. 
A  most  gracious  work  of  God  followed. 

REV.   JAMES    CAUGHEY. 

Rev.  James  Caughey  came  to  assist  Bro.  Allen  in 
a  protracted  effort  for  a  revival.  He  commenced  his 
labors  Dec.  3d,  1847,  and  continued  them  for  three 
months,  preaching  twice  each  Sabbath,  and  four 


71 

evenings  during  the  week,  and  occasionally  in  the 
afternoon  of  week  days.  The  work  of  God  com- 
menced in  power,  and  seldom  has  there  been  wit- 
nessed a  more  deep,  thorough,  genuine  work  of  the 
Spirit.  Conversions  among  all  classes  were  clear 
and  satisfactory.  The  work  was  too  deep  to  be  bois- 
terous, taking  hold  of  the  hardest  hearts,  and  sub- 
duing the  most  stubborn  wills.  Between  two  and 
three  hundred  professed  conversion,  while  hundreds 
were  reclaimed  from  their  backslidings.  More  than 
one  hundred  united  with  the  Chestnut  Street  Church, 
and  most  of  the  others  united  with  other  Christian 
churches  in  the  city. 

A    SPECIAL    CASE. 

I  cannot  forbear  making  mention  of  one  case  of 
great  interest  connected  with  this  remarkable  re- 
vival. Miss  B.,  a  young  lady  of  high  social  posi- 
tion and  extraordinary  intellectual  powers,  belonging 
to  a  very  respectable  family  connected  with  another 
Christian  church,  came  to  the  meetings  and  became 
deeply  interested  in  the  subject  of  religion,  and  soon 
obtained  the  "pearl  of  great  price."  She  was  about 
to  be  married  to  a  gentleman  of  wealth,  and  they 
contemplated  spending  some  time  in  traveling  in 


72 

foreign  countries.  Learning  that  she  had  become 
religious,  he  became  exceedingly  offended,  and  de- 
manded that  she  renounce  her  religion,  or  their  en- 
gagement must  end.  He  gave  her  a  certain  time  to 
consider  and  decide  the  matter.  She  went  to  Rev. 
Mr.  Allen  for  counsel,  and  laid  the  subject  before 
him.  He  soon  saw  that  her  mind  was  made  up  to 
be  a  Christian,  and  that  there  was  no  occasion  for 
advising  her  in  the  matter.  He  simply  advised  her 
to  follow  the  convictions  of  her  mind,  and  leave  the 
result  with  God.  Her  decision  was  soon  made 
known  to  the  young  gentleman,  and  the  matrimonial 
engagement  dissolved.  She  soon  united  with  the 
church,  and  became  a  most  exemplary,  earnest 
Christian.  In  about  one  year  she  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Rev.  H.  B.,  a  member  of  the  Provi- 
dence Conference.  She  entered  upon  her  new 
sphere  of  labor  with  a  purpose  to  devote  her  time 
and  talents  to  the  service  of  the  Lord.  Her  pros- 
pects for  usefulness  were  most  encouraging ;  but 
disease  fastened  itself  upon  her  naturally  delicate 
constitution,  and  in  a  few  months  her  spirit  took  its 
upward  flight  to  her  heavenly  home.  Her  death  was 
a  Christian  triumph. 

In  1849  Rev.  T.  G.  Carver,  who  had  been  ad- 


73 

mitted  into  the  New  England  Conference  on  proba- 
tion, was  transferred  to  the  Providence  Conference, 
and  stationed  at  Chestnut  Street,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  It  was  during  this  year  that  what  is  now 
the  Broadway  Church  was  commenced  on  Federal 
Street. 

In  1851  and  1852  Rev.  John  Hobart  was  pastor 
of  this  church. 

CHURCH   EDIFICE    REMODELED. 

During  Mr.  Hobart's  pastorate  the  church  edifice 
was  raised  and  remodeled,  the  steeple  was  finished, 
the  present  organ  introduced,  and  the  church  left 
with  an  embarassing  debt. 

In  1853  and  1854  Rev.  S.  C.  Brown  was  pastor. 
The  church  prospered  under  the  labors  of  Bro. 
Brown. 

In  1855  and  1856  Rev.  Richard  Livesey,  now 
gone  to  his  rest,  was  pastor.  Mr.  Livesey  is  said  to 
have  been  an  able  and  successful  minister  of  the  New 
Testament. 

In  1857  and  1858,  Rev.  George  M.  Carpenter. 
The  church  this  year  shared  in  the  gracious  revival 


74 

which  visited  the  whole  country,  and  some  interest- 
ing additions  were  made  to  the  society. 

In  1859  and  1860,  Rev.  J.  A.  M.  Chapman. 
Bro.  Chapman  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  people 
of  his  charge,  and  on  special  occasions  drew  crowded 
congregations.  The  sub-bass  of  the  organ  got  out 
of  tune  this  year,  creating  no  little  discord  in  the  so- 
ciety. 

TRINITY    CHURCH   ORGANIZED. 

It  was  in  the  year  1859  that  a  new  interest  was 
started,  and  a  fifth  church  organized,  known  as  the 
Trinity  Church. 

DEBT    PAID    ON    CHESTNUT    STREET    CHURCH. 

In  1861  and  1862  Rev.  J.  B.  Gould  was  pastor. 
Bro.  Gould  was  successful  in  removing  a  long  stand- 
ing debt,  of  more  than  $6,000,  from  the  church  prop- 
erty. Of  the  amount  contributed,  Hezekiah  Anthony 
gave  $2,800  and  Dexter  N.  Knight  $1,000.  Bro. 
Gould  taking  a  chaplaincy  in  the  army  during  his 
second  year,  Rev.  A.  P.  Aikin,  a  graduate  from  the 
Wesleyan  University,  took  his  place  and  labored  with 
marked  success  until  the  close  of  the  Conference  year. 


75 

In  1863  and  1864,  Rev.  W.  McDonald.  The 
church  and  parsonage  were  repaired  and  newly 
painted.  About  the  first  of  November,  1864,  the 
pastor  was  stricken  down  by  fever,  which  well  nigh 
terminated  his  earthly  being.  For  four  months  he 
lingered  between  life  and  death.  But,  by  the  con- 
stant and  earnest  prayers  of  the  church  and  the 
blessing  of  God,  he  was  restored.  The  pulpit  was 
supplied  the  most  of  the  time  by  Rev.  H.  V.  Degen, 
of  the  New  England  Conference. 

In  1865  and  1866  Rev.  Mark  Trafton  was  pastor. 
Mr.  Trafton  enjoyed  uninterrupted  prosperity  during 
his  two  years.  Some  changes  were  made  in  the  gal- 
leries of  the  church,  and  a  large  choir  introduced, 
under  the  direction  of  Professors  Tourjee  and  Snow, 
which  added  greatly  to  the  attractions  of  the  service. 
Perhaps  the  Chestnut  St.  Church  has  not  been  in  a 
more  prosperous  state  for  many  years,  if  ever,  than 
at  the  close  of  Mr.  Trafton's  term  of  pastoral  service. 
Mr.  Trafton  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Bidwell, 
who  is  the  present  pastor. 


76 

THE    OFFICIAL   MEMBERS    FOR   1867. 
LOCAL     PREACHERS. 

J.  W.  Bowdish,  Mark  Trafton, 

S.  Boyd,  Geo.  M.  Carpenter. 

Jesse  Fillmore, 

CLASS     LEADERS. 

J.  F.  Trescott,  Levi  Lewis, 

Chas.  W.  Fabyan,         W.  A.  Wardwell, 
W.  T.  Cole,  Rebecca  Pettis. 

STEWARDS. 

W.  A.  Wardwell,  W.  A.  Green, 

W.  Barton,  H.  M.  Horton, 

D.  Wilcox,  W.  Billings, 

J.  R.  Brown,  B.  Luther. 
J.  W.  Bowdish, 

TRUSTEES. 

J.  Lewis,  Levi  Lewis, 

W.  A.  Wardwell,  W.  Barton, 

W.  A.  Green,  H.  M.  Horton, 

J.  R.  Brown,  W.  H.  Fenner. 


77  * 

EXHORTERS. 

John  F.  Trescott. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENT. 

Dutie  Wilcox. 

The  present  membership,  including  probationers, 
is  272. 


HISTORY 

OF 

POWER  STREET  CHURCH. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1832,  a  number  of 
the  most  enterprising  members  of  Chestnut  Street 
Church,  seeing  the  need  of  a  Methodist  Church  on 
the  east  side  of  the  city,  and  led  on  by  such  men  as 
Daniel  Field,  Hezekiah  Anthony,  Joseph  Fuller, 
Levi  Webster,  Job  Andrews,  James  Lewis,  Abner, 
David,  and  Capt.  Abiza  Hall,  the  enterprise  was 
commenced  and  vigorously  prosecuted.  A  subscrip- 
tion was  made  to  purchase  a  lot,  and  begin  the  erec- 
tion of  a  house  of  worship  on  the  corner  of  South 
Main  and  Power  Streets.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
new  edifice  was  laid,  with  appropriate  religious  cere- 
monies, July  4,  1833.  The  house  was  dedicated 
Jan.  1,  1834,  Rev.  J.  Horton  preaching  a  very  able 
sermon  on  the  occasion,  on  the  distinctive  doctrines 
of  Methodism. 

Rev.  C.  K.  True,  having  been  admitted  to  the 
New  England  Conference  on  probation,  and  ap- 


79 

pointed  to  Bristol  Circuit,  as  colleague  of  Rev.  E. 
K.  Avery,  until  the  Power  Street  Church  should  be 
completed,  now  became  colleague  of  Rev.  J.  Horton, 
stationed  at  Chestnut  Street,  and  on  Jan.  5,  the 
Sabbath  following  the  dedication,  preached  the  first 
Sabbath  sermon  hi  the  new  church  from  Isaiah  40  :  3, 
"  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the  wilderness,  Pre- 
pare ye  the  way  of  the  Lord."  The  house  was  well 
filled,  and  through  the  earnest  labors  of  the  youthful 
evangelist  many  were  added  to  the  church.  Mr. 
True's  health  failing  him  through  over-exertion,  he 
was  obliged,  reluctantly,  to  relinquish  his  charge 
about  the  middle  of  the  following  March.  Bro. 
True  speaks  of  his  labors  in  Providence  thus  :-  "  I 
longed  greatly  in  those  days  for  the  conversion  of 
sinners ;  and,  being  a  very  early  riser,  I  used  to 
walk  the  streets  of  Providence,  long  before  the  peo- 
ple were  awake,  praying  for  a  revival  of*  religion. 
I  had  a  delightful  intimacy  with  my  beloved  col- 
league— Rev.  Mr.  Horton — and  his  family.  That 
meek-eyed,  patient,  intelligent  wife,  and  those  well 
behaved  children,  I  shall  never  forget.  I  little 
thought  then  of  the  scenes  which  were  before  us  in 
the  anti-slavery  struggle,  and  that  one  of  those  boys 


would  fall  a  victim  of  liberty  in  the  streets  of  New 
Orleans." 

Mr.  True  leaving  the  charge,  Rev.  D.  Patten,  Jr., 
was  appointed  as  his  successor.  Mr.  Patten  contin- 
ued his  labors  until  the  session  of  Conference.  Dur- 
ing the  labors  of  Messrs.  True  and  Patten,  about 
eighty  members  of  Chestnut  Street  were  transferred 
to  the  Power  Street  Church,  and  some  forty  were 
added  by  conversion,  etc. 

A  Sabbath  School  was  organized,  numbering 
about  one  hundred  scholars,  and  the  society  was,  in 
every  respect,  in  a  most  prosperous  condition.  God 
crowned  their  efforts  with  success. 

April  1st,  1834,  at  a  Quarterly  Conference  held 
in  Power  Street  Church  for  both  societies,  it  was  re- 
solved to  divide  the  charge  and  call  it  Providence, 
East  and  West.  From  this  time  Power  Street  be- 
came an  independent  charge,  and  has  so  remained  to 

this  day. 

It  is  said  that  Hezekiah  Anthony,  who  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  establishment  of  this  society,  declared 
on  the  day  of  the  dedication,  that  the  church  would 
never  be  successful ;  and  gave  as  the  reason,  that 
they  were  ten  minutes  late  in  commencing  the  dedi- 
catory services.  If  the  remark  was  not  a  truthful 


81 

prophecy,  it  was  a  most  striking  illustration  of  Mr. 
Anthony's  promptness  in  business  ;  for  it  is  but  just 
to  say  that  a  man  of  equal  promptness  in  business  is 
not  often  found  in  any  community. 

In  1834  Eev.  H.  H.  White  was  the  stationed 
preacher.  He  remained  but  one  year,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1835  and  1836  by  Rev.  A.  U.  Swinerton. 

In  1837  Rev.  Abel  Stevens  was  appointed  to  this 
charge.  His  health  failing,  he  was  obliged  to  relin- 
quish his  charge  at  the  end  of  the  first  year,  and  try 
a  warmer  climate.  Mr.  Stevens  was  a  power  in  the 
pulpit,  —  so  youthful,  so  earnest  and  eloquent ;  he 
attracted  large  crowds  to  hear  him,  and  the  society 
greatly  regretted  the  necessity  which  compelled  him 
to  leave. 

From  November,  1838,  to  June,  1839,  Rev.  Rich- 
ard Livesey  supplied  the  pulpit  with  acceptance. 

In  1839  and  1840  Rev.  D.  Fillmore  was  pastor. 
His  labors  were  profitable  to  the  society. 

1841,  Rev.  C.  S.  Macreading.    Mr.  Macreading's 
labors  were  attended  with  a  very  remarkable  revival. 
He  remained  but  one  year. 

1842,  Rev.  E.  M.  Stickney. 

1843,  Rev.  W.  T.  Harlow. 
1844-5,  Rev.  A.  U.  Swinerton. 


82 

1846,  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford. 

1847-8,  Rev.  D.  Wise. 

During  Mr.  Wise's  second  year,  some  trouble 
arose  with  regard  to  the  introduction  of  a  musical  in- 
strument. The  improvement  was  urged  by  a  large 
number  of  influential  members,  and  opposed  by  a 
still  larger  number,  resulting  in  the  withdrawal  of 
some  twenty  members,  who,  uniting  with  others 
from  Chestnut  Street,  organized  the  IVfathewson 
Street  Church. 

A  very  gracious  revival  followed  this  secession, 
resulting  in  more  than  filling  their  depleted  ranks. 

1849-50,  Rev.  H.  C.  Atwater  was  the  pastor. 
The  revival  commenced  under  Mr.  Wise,  continued 
through  Mr.  Atwater's  entire  administration,  adding 
about  ninety  to  the  church. 

1851—52,  Rev.  J.  D.  Butler.  His  ministry  was 
successful.  At  first,  as  might  have  been  expected 
after  so  extensive  a  revival  as  attended  the  labors  of 
the  two  preceding  pastors,  there  was,  for  a  time,  an 
apparent  reaction.  This  continued  for  about  six 
months,  when  the  tide  turned ;  and  during  the  re- 
mainder of  Mr.  Butler's  term  there  was  a  gradual  re- 
vival, resulting  in  the  conversion  of  ninety-nine  souls. 
"  My  two  years  in  Power  Street,"  says  Mr.  Butler, 


83 

"  I  consider  among  the  most  successful  in  the  course 
of  my  labors  in  the  church." 

1853-54,  Rev.  J.  Howson. 

1855-56,  Rev.  J.  Lovejoy. 

1857-58,  Rev.  J.  Mather. 

1859-60,  Rev.  T.  Ely. 

Mr.  Ely  projected  the  plan  of  remodeling  the 
church,  and  securing  the  pews  to  the  society.  His 
term  of  service  closed  before  anything  had  been  com- 
pleted. 

1861—62,  Rev.  H.  Baylies  was  pastor. 

POWER    STREET    CHURCH    EDIFICE    REMODELED. 

Immediately  on  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Baylies  to 
this  charge,  measures  were  adopted  for  the  alteration 
and  improvement  of  the  church  edifice.  Rev.  Mr. 
Ely  had  the  matter  under  advisement  during  his  ad- 
ministration, and  had  met  with  more  or  less  opposi- 
tion ;  but  under  Rev.  Mr.  Baylie  the  work  was 
prosecuted  with  vigor.  The  house  was  thoroughly 
remodeled  and"  made  neat  and  attractive ;  all  the 
pews  being  made  over  to  the  society  so  that  they  are 
owned  and  rented  by  the  society. 

The  house  was  re-opened  for  worship  Jan.   29, 


84 

1862,  the  pastor  preaching  the  sermon  on  the  occa- 
sion. 

1863-64,  Rev  J.  B.  Gould  was  pastor. 

1865-66  Eev.  G.  M.  Hamlin. 

Bro.  Hamlin's  administration  was  a  success.  A 
goodly  number  were  converted  and  added  to  the 
church  and  a  debt  on  the  church  of  $5,300  was  pro- 
vided for ;  so  that  this  church  reaches  the  Centenary 
year  free  from  debt. 

In  1867  Rev.  J.  Livesey  was  pastor. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Dean  is  the  present  pastor.  The 
Power  Street  Church  is  in  a  hopeful  state.  Its  loca- 
tion is  not  the  most  desirable  for  growth,  but,  under 
these  disadvantages,  its  success  has  been  commenda- 
ble. It  has  not  been  without  its  troubles.  Few 
churches  in  the  Providence  Conference  have  had  a 
more  stormy  and  checkered  career. 

But,  through  all  these  difficulties,  a  divine  hand 
has  guided  it  in  its  course,  and  preserved  it  from  the 
destruction  which  has,  again  and  again,  seemed  to 
threaten  it. 

THE    OFFICIAL    MEMBERS    FOE   1867. 
TRUSTEES. 

Philip  H.  Durfee,          Elery  Millard, 


85 

Frederick  P.  Pearce,      Joseph  Frankland, 
Morris  Deming,  Elisha  J.  Allen. 

STEWARDS. 

Philip  H.  Durfee,  Solomon  Green, 

Elery  Millard,  Elisha  J.  Allen, 

James  Frankland,  Nath'l  H.  West, 

Charles  R.  Leonard,  Joseph  Frankland. 
James  Crawford, 

CLASS     LEADERS. 

Joseph  Frankland,          Elery  Millard, 
Wm.  J.  Spencer,          'John  B.  Earle, 
Geo.  A.  Taylor,  Frederick  P.  Pearce. 

SUNDAY     SCHOOL     SUPERINTENDENT. 

Solomon  Green. 

LOCAL     PREACHER. 

Samuel  Griffin. 

EXHORTER. 

William  T.  Osmun. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church,  including 
probationers,  is  260. 


HISTORY 

OF 

MATHEWSO^  STEEET  CHURCH. 


During  the  year  1848  the  Mathewson  Street 
Church  was  organized  as  the  third  Methodist  church 
in  Providence.  The  difficulties  in  the  Power  Street 
Church  had  determined  a  number  of  the  members  to 
withdraw ;  among  them  Dr.  Charles  W.  Fabyan. 
Dr.  Fabyan  remarked  to  Rev.  R.  W.  Allen,  pastor 
of  the  Chestnut  Street  Church,  that  he  did  not  know 
where  to  attend  church.  Bro.  Allen  replied,  "It  is  a 
good  time  to  commence  a  new  society,  and  you  are 
the  man  to  lead  off  in  it."  Dr.  Fabyan  inquired, 
"Where  shall  we  meet  for  worship?"  Bro.  Allen 
replied,  "In  one  of  the  Halls."  Arrangements  were 
soon  made,  and  on  Sunday,  Oct.  1st,  1848,  a  con- 
gregation assembled  for  the  first  time  in  the  old 
Hoppin  Hall,  No.  33  Westminster  Street,  com- 
posed of  members  chiefly  from  Power  Street  and 
Chestnut  Street  churches. 


87 

It  was  their  opinion  that  the  interests  of  the  cause 
of  God,  and  of  Methodism  in  the  city,  demanded 
another  Methodist  Church;  and  this  first  step  was 
an  experiment  by  which  to  judge  of  the  necessity  of 
the  movement  in  the  light  of  its  results.  To  their 
great  joy,  the  first  fruits  gave  promise  of  a  rich  har- 
vest. The  Hall  was  well  filled,  and  Rev.  Robert 
Allyn,  then  in  charge  of  the  East  Greenwich  Semi- 
nary, preached  the  first  sermon  from  Psa.  20 : 5, 
"  In  the  name  of  our  God  we  will  set  up  our  ban- 
ners." The  sermon,  as  well  as  the  text,  is  said  to 
have  been  exceedingly  appropriate,  and  contributed 
much  towards  starting  the  new  enterprise  in  the  right 
spirit.  It  revealed  true  piety  as  the  sure  and  certain 
ground  of  a  church's  life  and  prosperity.  The  fol- 
lowing Sabbath,  Oct.  8,  Mr.  Allyn  preached  again. 
Oct.  15,  Rev.  Robert  M.  Hatfield  preached.  Oct. 
22,  Rev.  David  Patten,  Jr.,  preached.  From  Oct. 
29  to  the  next  session  of  Conference,  April,  1849, 
Rev.  W.  Livesey  was  the  pastor.  The  congregation 
met  for  three  Sabbaths  without  organization.  On 
Thursday  evening,  Oct.  19,  they  met  for  the  purpose 
of  formal  organization.  Twenty-eight  persons  had 
secured  their  letters,  and  became  at  this  time  the 
original  members  of  the  Mathewson  Street  Metho- 


88 

dist  Episcopal  Church.  The  names  of  these  mem- 
bers were  as  follows  :  Preston  Bennett,  Elizabeth 
S.  Bennett,  Charles  C.  Burnham,  Elizabeth  P. 
Burnham,  Henry  Baker,  Susan  Baker,  Anna 
Briggs,  Mary  J.  Bishop,  Nicholas  R.  Easton, 
Maria  Easton,  Charles  W.  Fabyan,  M.  D.,  Pa- 
melia  C.  Fabyan,  Hannah  Fraden,  John  Hoar, 
Mercy  Hoar,  Sarah  A.  Harris,  Daniel  Murry, 
Allen  Monroe,  Abby  Monroe,  Nathaniel  N.  Pratt, 
Abby  F.  Parker,  Phila  Sweetland,  Elias  Stoyles, 
Daniel  Sisson,  William  A.  Williams,  Anna  M.  Wil- 
liams, Josiah  L.  Webster,  Helen  M.  Webster. 

Twenty-one  of  the  foregoing  number  were  from 
Power  Street,  six  from  Chestnut  Street,  and  one 
from  East  Greenwich. 

FIRST    OFFICIAL    MEMBERS    OF    THIS    CHURCH. 
TRUSTEES. 

David  Sisson,  Preston  Bennett, 

Dr.  C.  W.  Fabyan,  William  B.  Lawton, 

Solomon  Arnold,  William  A.  Williams, 

Daniel  Murry,  Nath'l  R.  Easton. 

STEWARDS. 

D.  Sisson,  P.  Bennett, 


89 

Dr.  C.  W.  Fabyan,       C.  W.  Burnham, 
N.  R.  Easton,  W.  A.  Williams. 

H.  Baker, 

CLASS    LEADERS. 

W.  A.  Williams,  D.  Murry. 

Josiah  L.  Webster, 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENT. 

Preston  Bennett. 

Seventeen  of  the  original  members  have  either  re- 
moved from  the  city,  joined  other  churches,  or  with- 
drawn ;  three  only  have  died,  and  eight  still  remain 
members  of  the  church  (1867).  Those  who  have 
died  are,  Phila  Sweetland,  William  A.  Williams 
and  Anna  Williams.  Some  of  these  names,  though 
dead,  yet  speak. 

The  prosperity  of  this  church  during  its  early 
history  is  worthy  of  remark.  From  the  first  the 
hall  was  filled  with  earnest  and  devout  worshipers. 
On  the  evening  of  the  fourth  Sabbath  after  the  open- 
ing of  the  hall,  the  first  opportunity  was  given  for 
the  seekers  of  religion  to  manifest  their  desires. 
Quite  a  large  number  responded  to  the  invitation, 
asking  the  prayers  of  Christians.  From  that  night 
onward,  revival  was  the  watchword  of  the  church. 
Scarcely  a  week  passed  without  more  or  less  con- 


90 

versions,  and  there  was  not  a  communion  service  for 
years,  it  is  said,  without  accessions  to  the  society. 
At  the  end  of  the  first  six  months  their  membership 
had  just  doubled,  having  added  28  to  their  number. 

In  1849  Rev.  David  Patten  was  appointed  to  this 
charge,  and  his  labors  were  greatly  blessed  to  the 
people.  The  hall  was  ever  crowded  with  attentive 
hearers,  and  many  wgfe  the  sheaves  gathered  for  the 
Master.  At  the  end  of  Mr.  Patten's  first  year  there 
were  112  in  society. 

The  original  members  were  permitted  to  welcome 
to  their  communion,  among  these  converts,  most  of 
the  children  and  youth  of  their  own  families  ;  many 
of  whom  are  still  active  members  of  this  or  some 
other  branch  of  the  church. 

In  1850  Bro.  Patten  was  returned,  and  continued  to 
preach  in  the  hall.  Some  time  in  the  month  of  June 
of  this  year  arrangements  were  made  to  erect  a  house 
of  worship.  A  site  was  selected  on  Mathewson 
Street,  and  the  members  entered  into  the  work  with 
their  usual  energy.  The  house  was  not  completed 
during  Bro.  Patten's  pastorate.  But  to  his  exertions 
the  enterprise  was  greatly  indebted. 

In  1851  Rev.  R.  M.  Hatfield  was  the  pastor. 
May  28th  of  this  year  the  new  church  was  dedicated 


91 

to  the  service  of  God.     Rev.  D.  Patten  preached  the 
sermon  on  the  occasion. 

The  society,  now  in  possession  of  the  best  church 
edifice  in  the  Conference,  and  with  zeal  greatly  in- 
creased by  such  an  opening  field  of  usefulness,  en- 
tered upon  the  work  of  leading  men  to  God  with 
new  vigor  and  corresponding  success.  The  house 
soon  became  too  strait  for  them.  Mr.  Hatfield's  en- 
ergy and  popularity  drew  crowds  from  all  parts  of 
the  city.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  church  was  ever  so 
crowded  as  during  this  year. 

One  rule  adopted  by  the  official  members  in  the 
conduct  of  their  prayer  meetings  is  worthy  of  note. 
They  agreed  among  themselves  that  in  their  meet- 
ings not  one  minute  of  time  should  run  to  waste. 
In  adhering  to  this  rule  it  was  sometimes  necessary 
for  persons  to  speak  twice ;  but  this  did  not  often 
occur.  As  the  result  of  this  rule  their  meetings  were 
always  interesting,  and  often  seasons  of  remarkable 
power.  The  unconverted  were  necessarily  attracted 
to  their  meetings,  and  large  numbers  were  converted 
to  God.  The  church  reported  at  the  end  of  the 
year  200  members  and  probationers.  Mr.  Hatfield 
remained  with  the  church  but  one  year,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1852  bv  Rev.  W.  T.  Harlow.  Mr.  Har- 


92 

low  continued  his  labors  with  this  church  two  years, 
and  they  were  years  of  more  or  less  prosperity. 
About  25  members  were  added  to  the  society  the 
first  year.  During  the  second  year  there  was  a  fall- 
ing off  in  the  membership.  It  was  not  expected  that 
the  immense  congregation  drawn  by  Mr.  Hatfield 
would  be  retained. 

In  1854  Rev.  M.  J.  Talbot  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  He  remained  but  one  year.  Slight  addi- 
tions were  made  to  the  membership  this  year. 

In  1855  Rev.  Henry  S.  White  was  the  pastor. 
He  remained  two  years.  Bro.  White  enjoyed  the 
confidence  of  the  people,  and  was  blessed  with  large 
additions  to  the  church.  The  first  year  the  mem- 
bership increased  to  about  275,  and  the  second  to 
about  300. 

In  1857  Rev.  F.  Upham  was  the  pastor.  Few 
preachers  have  been  more  signally  blessed  in  this 
church  than  Mr.  Upham.  He  enjoyed  an  almost 
uninterrupted  revival,  which  largely  increased  the 
membership  of  the  society,  leaving  at  the  end  of  his 
second  year  about  350  in  society. 

In  1859  Rev.  S.  C.  Brown  was  the  pastor.  He 
remained  two  years.  The  church  was  more  or  less 
affected  by  so  large  a  number  of  the  more  active  mem- 


93 

bers  of  the  church  leaving,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing the  Trinity  Church.  The  church  felt  the  loss, 
and  did  not  seem  to  rally  readily  from  the  shock. 
Other  and  prominent  members  leaving  and  uniting 
with  other  churches  materially  affected  its  prosperity. 
They  were  years  of  trial,  both  to  the  pastor  and  the 
church. 

In  1861  Kev.  S.  Dean  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  Mr.  Dean  remained  two  years.  He  en- 
tered upon  the  work  under  some  disadvantages,  but 
these  were  soon  removed,  and  by  his  superior  pulpit 
abilities  drew  a  large  and  appreciative  congregation. 
Mr.  Dean  was  successful.  And  it  was  generally 
conceded  that  no  man  had  filled  the  pulpit  of  this 
church  more  ably,  and  generally  more  acceptably. 

In  1863  Rev.  J.  H.  McCarty  was  transferred 
from  the  New  Hampshire  to  the  Providence  Confer- 
ence, and  stationed  at  this  church.  Mr.  McCarty 
came  highly  recommended,  and  commenced  his  labors 
under  very  favorable  auspices.  Without  the  pulpit 
popularity  of  his  predecessor,  he  still  possessed  qual- 
ities of  head  and  heart  which  won  for  him  the  love 
and  esteem  of  his  people.  His  feeble  health,  and 
certain  peculiarities  of  his  church,  rendered  it  difficult 


94 

for  him  to  accomplish  all  that  was  hoped  might  be 
done. 

Mr.  McCarty  returned  the  second  year.  His  la- 
bors during  the  second  year  were  about  as  they  were 
the  first.  There  was  more  or  less  internal  difficulty 
and  personal  disagreement  in  the  society,  which 
made  it  exceedingly  unpleasant  for  the  pastor  and 
many  of  the  members. 

Mr.  McCarty  was  returned  the  third  year,  but 
becoming  somewhat  dissatisfied  with  the  state  of 
things  in  the  society,  and  finding  his  labors  more  or- 
less  unsuccessful,  resigned  his  charge  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  year,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Detroit 
Conference. 

Rev.  Seth  Reed,  stationed  at  Edgartown,  Mass., 
was  removed  from  his  charge,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  the  pastorate  of  this  church  made  vacant  by 
the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  McCarty. 

In  1866  and  1867  Mr.  Reed  was  re-appointed  to 
the  charge,  and  has  labored  with  acceptance  and 
profit.  Its  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mark  Trafton. 

The  Mathewson  Street  Church  from  its  origin  has 
sought  to  maintain  the  first  position  in  the  Providence 
Conference,  and  generally  it  has  been  successful.  It 
has  had,  like  other  churches,  its  trials  and  internal 


disruptions ;  but  for  enterprise  and  success  it  has  had 
few  if  any  equals  in  the  Providence  Conference. 
May  it  find  a  symbol  of  its  history  in  the  "  burning 
bush,"  though  subjected  to  fiery  trials,  yet  uncon- 
sumed.  Its  membership  at  present  is  266. 
The  following  is  the  officiary  of  the  church  : 

LOCAL,     PREACHERS. 

Wm.  Gardiner,  Sidney  Dean. 

STEWARDS. 

John  Kendrick,  James  Kothwell, 

T.  G.  Eiswall,  E.  Curtis, 

P.  M.  Stone,  W.  J.  MitcheU, 

P.  B.  Wright,  Moses  Deming. 
David  Harris, 

LEADERS. 

Samuel  Curry,  J.  L.  Webster, 

John  Crowell,  Samuel Boyd,  Jr., 

A.  J.  Manchester,  Thomas  Gardiner. 
J.  S.  Latham, 

SUNDAY   SCHOOL   SUPERINTENDENT. 

Charles  A.  Webster. 


HISTORY 

OF 

BROADWAY    CHURCH 


In  the  year  1850  some  of  the  members  of  Chestnut 
Street  Church,  feeling  that  a  Sunday  School  was 
needed  in  the  Northwest  part  of  the  city,  took  active 
measures  to  secure  a  place  where  such  a  school  could 
be  held.  An  old  meeting-house,  built  and  for  a  time 
occupied  by  Rev.  John  Tillinghast,  and  afterwards  by 
the  Calvinistic  Baptists,  situated  on  the  corner  of 
Dean  and  Federal  Streets — now  occupied  for  a  dwell- 
ing house — was  secured,  and  in  the  month  of  April 
of  the  same  year  a  Snnday  School  was  organized. 
Wm.  K.  Thurber  was  appointed  superintendent. 
On  the  evening  of  the  same  Sabbath  there  was 
preaching  in  this  house  by  Rev.  T.  G.  Carver.  Sab- 
bath evening  preaching  was  continued  by  the  pastors 
of  Chestnut,  Power  and  Mathewson  Streets.  Under 
the  labors  of  these  pastors  the  work  of  God  was  more 
or  less  revived,  until  it  seemed  necessary  to  have  a 
regular  pastor. 


97 

Rev.  Richard  Donkersley,  a  superannuated  member 
of  the  Providence  Conference,  was  secured,  and  served 
the  society  for  a  time. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  the  services  of  Rev.  C. 
Banning  were  secured,  and  regular  Sabbath  service 
was  established.  Bro.  Banning's  labors  resulted  in 
the  conversion  of  quite  a  number  of  souls. 

In  1851  Rev.  D.  Fillmore  was  appointed  to  the 
Federal  Street  Mission  ;  but  Rev.  T.  Ely,  Presiding 
Elder,  took  the  responsibility  of  allowing  Bro.  Ban- 
ning to  remain  another  year,  greatly  to  the  gratifica- 
tion of  the  people. 

The  first  Board  Meeting  for  the  church  was  held 
April  28,  1851,  at  the  house  of  W.  K.  Thurber. 

The  stewards  were  Harvey  .Dingley,  Isaac  Sperry, 
N.  C.  Briggs,  and  Edmond  Kenyon.  W.  K.  Thur- 
ber, Class  Leader. 

The  year  was  one  of  unusual  prosperity  to  the 
church.  Bro.  Banning's  labors  were  greatly  blessed 
among  the  people.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by  all, 
and  general  harmony  prevailed. 

In  1852,  Rev.  Moses  Chase  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  He  labored  with  his  usual  success  for  one 
year,  and  was  succeeded  in  1853  by  Rev.  J.  Cady, 
who  remained  with  the  society  three  years, — the  third 


98 

year  supernumerary.  The  location  of  the  church  was 
unfavorable,  and  there  was  little  hope  of  success 
without  some  change.  At  a  Board  Meeting  held  at 
the  house  of  Bro.  Cady,  May  29,  1854,  the  feeling 
was  general  that  something  must  be  done  or  the 
enterprise  must  be  abandoned.  A  committee,  con- 
sisting of  John  Dean  and  William  Barney,  was 
appointed  to  see  if  the  house  formerly  occupied  by 
the  Wesley  an  Methodist  Church,  corner  of  Fountain 
and  Franklin  Streets,  could  not  be  secured.  This 
church,  which  was  organized  in  1840,  had  failed  to 
succeed,  and  their  house  was  unoccupied. 

At  a  Board  Meeting,  held  at  the  house  of  Rev.  J. 
Cady  April  20,  1855,  the  committee  before  named 
reported  that  they  had  hired  the  Wesleyan  Church 
for  three  hundred  dollars  per  year,  with  the  privilege 
of  purchasing  the  same  for  three  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  voted  to  engage  the  house  and  immediately 
remove  to  it.  It  was  voted  at  the  same  meeting  to 
change  the  name  of  the  society  from  Federal  Street 
Mission  to  the  Fourth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Sunday,  April  22,  the  first  service  was  held  in  this 
church.  Sermon  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  J.  Cady. 

July  25, '1855,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  J. 
Cady,  preacher  in  charge,  J.  Dean,  R.  G.  Cory  and 


99 

Wilber  Barney,  were  appointed  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  the  purchase  of  the  house  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church.  July  30th,  the  committee  report- 
ed that  they  had  made  a  satisfactory  purchase  of  the 
church,  and  their  report  was  accepted  and  the  pur- 
chase sanctioned  by  the  Board. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  elected  in  August 
of  this  year.  They  were  Rev.  J.  Cady,  Robert  G. 
Cory,  John  Dean,  C.  Mowry,  R.  W.  Cady,  T.  Ad- 
derman,  T.  J.  Gardiner,  L.  Arnold  and  W.  Barney. 
In  January,  1856,  they  secured  their  charter  from 
the  Legislature. 

In  1856  Rev.  W.  Kellen  was  appointed  to  the 
charge,  and  remained  one  year. 

In  1857  Rev.  S.  M.  Carroll  became  the  pastor, 
and  remained  two  years.  These  years  were  not 
marked  with  remarkable  prosperity.  It  was  felt  by 
all  that  even  this  location  was  not  favorable,  and  that 
a  more  eligible  site  was  imperatively  demanded.  As 
the  Trinity  Church  enterprise  was  about  beim-;  inau- 
gurated, efforts  were  made  to  unite  the  two  interests, 
but  without  success.  For  a  time  it  was  doubtful  as 
to  what  would  be  the  result. 

In  1859  Rev.  E.  B.  Bradford  was  appointed  to 
the  charge.  After  looking  over  the  ground  for  a 


100 

time,  it  was  judged  expedient  to  make  some  change 
in  their  church  location  at  once.  It  was  finally  de- 
termined to  purchase  an  eligible  lot  on  Broadway 
and  remove  their  present  church  edifice  on  to  it,  and 
sell  their  lot  on  Fountain  Street.  Through  the  inde- 
fatigable labors  of  Mr.  Bradford,  this  result  was  ac- 
complished. The  lot  was  purchased  and  the  house 
removed.  A  new  front  was  added,  and  other  im- 
portant modifications  made,  so  that  the  house  pre- 
sented all  the  appearance  of  a  new  church.  It  is  due 
to  Mr.  Bradford  to  say  that  his  efforts  were  untiring. 
He  not  only  preached  on  the  Sabbath,  but  performed 
manual  labor  on  the  church  from  first  to  last.  He 
labored  as  few  men  could  or  would  have  done ;  but 
he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  top-stone  brought 
forth  with  rejoicing.  The  church,  though  left  with 
a  few  thousand  dollars'  debt,  was  in  a  better  condition 
than  ever  before.  The  pews  were  all  owned  by  the 
society,  and  rented  for  the  benefit  of  the  church.  The 
church  as  remodeled,  was  dedicated  in  September, 
1860, — Rev.  R.  M.  Hatfield  preaching  an  edifying 
sermon  on  the  occasion. 

In  1861  Rev.  H.  S.  White  became  the  pastor, 
and  remained  nearly  two  years.  He  was  successful, 
and  many  additions  were  made  to  the  society.  Bro. 


101 

White,  accepting  a  chaplaincy  in  the  army,  left  a  few 
months  before  the  close  of  his  second  year  and  was 
succeeded  in  the  charge  by  Rev.  Alfred  Wright,  who 
served  the  church  with  acceptance  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  year. 

In  1863  Rev.  C.  H.  Paine  was  appointed  to  the 
charge.  Bro.  Paine  labored  with  great  acceptance. 
The  congregation  was  greatly  improved  in  numbers, 
the  Sunday  School  largely  increased,  and  all  the  in- 
terests of  the  church  promoted.  Bro.  Paine  remained 
with  the  church  two  years. 

In  1865  Rev.  J.  B.  Gould  was  pastor.  Bro. 
Gould  vacating  the  charge  during  his  second  year, 
the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  S.  Dean.  This 
brings  us  to  the  Centenary  year. 

In  1867  Rev.  V.  A.  Cooper  became  the  pastor. 
It  is  but  just  to  say  that  Broadway  Church  has  la- 
bored under  many  embarrassments  ;  and  it  was  not 
until  they  had  established  themselves  in  their  present 
location  that  they  were  in  a  condition  to  do  much. 
Since  their  removal  to  Broadway  they  have  prospered. 
The  members  have  been  devoted  to  the  work,  and 
have  bravely  and  zealously  labored  to  establish  Meth- 
odism in  that  section  of  the  city.  May  their  labors 
be  crowned  with  complete  success. 


102 
The  following  are  the  official  members  : 

TRUSTEES. 

Thomas  Adderman,  Wilber  Barney, 

Jacob  F.  Monro,  Christo.  W.  Mowry, 

Perry  G.  Card,  Gilbert  M.  Steere, 

H.  S.  Lamson,  Peleg  H.  Barnes. 
Richard  Lowe, 

STEWARDS. 

Henry  T.  Salisbury,  Andrew  J.  Magoon, 

Wm.  L.  Cook,  Horace  S.  Lamson, 

Elisha  J.  Arnold,  John  Robinson, 

Gilbert  M.  Steere,  Peleg  H.  Barnes. 
Thomas  Adderman, 

CLASS    LEADERS. 

Richard  Lowe,  W-.  N.  Lansing. 

Perry  G.  Card, 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENT. 

Richard  Lowe. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church,  including 
probationers,  is  202. 


HISTORY 

OP 
SOUTH  PEOYIDE^OE   CHUBCH. 


The  origin  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  South  Prov- 
idence was  on  this  wise  : — About  the  year  1854,  at  a 
missionary  prayer  meeting  held  in  the  Chestnut  St. 
Church,  Job  Andrews  and  others  made  some  remarks 
upon  the  importance  of  home  missionary  labor,  in 
contrast  with  the  foreign  work.  J.  W.  Bowdish 
challenged  the  brethren  to  unite  with  him  in  this 
work,  and  called  attention  to  South  Providence  as  a 
suitable  and  most  promising  field.  The  remarks 
called  up  an  English  brother  by  the  name  of  Brown, 
who  spoke  of  what  he  had  already  tried  to  do  in 
establishing  a  Sunday  School  in  South  Providence ; 
but  from  a  variety  of  causes,  principally  want  of  aid, 
he  had  nearly  abandoned  the  enterprise.  He  seconded 
most  heartily  the  measure,  and  was  himself  ready  to 
engage  in  the  work. 

Mr.  Bowdish,  believing  this  to  be  a  providential 
opening,  determined  at  once  to  engage  in  the  work 


104 

He  endeavored  to  enlist  Mr.  Andrews  in  the  enter- 
prise, believing  that  a  man  of  his  talent  and  in- 
fluence would  be  of  great  service ;  but  for  some 
reason  he  declined. 

Soon  after  this  meeting  a  Sunday  School  was  or- 
ganized in  Mitchell's  Hall,  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Spiritualists.  At  first  the  school  was  small,  but 
continued  to  increase  in  numbers  until  it  became 
necessary  to  secure  a  larger  place.  Lyceum  Hall  on 
Eddy  Street  was  obtained,  where  the  school  had 
ample  room. 

In  1856  South  Providence  appears  on  the  Minutes 
for  the  first  time  as  a  Mission,  Rev.  Jonathan  Cady 
preacher  in  charge.  November  30th  of  this  year 
the  first  Quarterly  Conference  was  held,  Rev.  C.  H. 
Titus  presiding  elder.  The  official  members  of  the 
church  at  this  time  were  : 

CLASS     LEADER. 

R.  Brown. 

STEWARDS. 

Albert  Cutter,       Samuel  Haney,     S.  C.  Read. 

The  report  of  the  Sunday  School  showed,  1  school, 
12  officers  and  teachers,  100  scholars,  266  vols.  in 
library,  20  in  infant  class. 


105 

In  1857  Mr.  Cady  was  returned  to  the  Mission. 
At  the  last  Quarterly  Conference  for  this  year,  held 
Jan.  24,  1858,  there  were  reported  20  members  in 
society.  Sunday  School — Officers  and  teachers,  10  ; 
scholars,  100 ;  in  infant  class,  20 ;  vols.  in  library, 
400. 

In  1858  the  Mission  was  left  to  be  supplied.  John 
F.  Trescott,  a  member  of  Chestnut  Street  Church, 
was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  work  until  a 
preacher  could  be  obtained.  Mr.  Trescott  received 
an  Exhorter's  license  at  the  first  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence of  this  year.  At  the  second  Quarterly  Con- 
ference held  at  Chestnut  Street,  his  license  was  re- 
voked, on  account,  we  believe,  of  some  peculiar 
theological  views  which  he  held  and  publicly  advo- 
cated. He  continued,  notwithstanding,  to  labor  with 
acceptance  and  profit  in  the  Sunday  School  and  social 
meetings.  The  desk  was  supplied  during  the  year 
by  different  Local  Preachers. 

At  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  Jan.  23,  1859, 
Rev.  J.  E.  Risley  was  appointed  to  the  charge,  in 
connection  with  Bro.  Trescott.  But  for  some  reason 
Bro.  Risley's  stay  was  brief.  "  After  the  division  of 
the  receipts  of  a  Fair  and  Festival,"  says  Bro.  Tres- 
cott, "between  Bro.  Risley  and  myself,  which 


106     , 

amounted  to  $15  each,  Bro.  Risley  retired  from  the 
field  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  turning  my  $15  over 
to  the  society  for  church  purposes,  which  was  the 
first  contribution  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot  for  a  church. 
What  has  become  of  it  I  do  not  know." 

In  1860  Rev.  Charles  M.  Winchester,  a  member 
of  Broadway  M.  E.  Church,  came  to  labor  with  this 
church  as  preacher  and  Sunday  School  superintend- 
ent. The  society  was  at  this  time  very  feeble,  and 
every  part  of  the  work  languished.  There  were  a 
few  brethren  who  loved  and  trusted  the  Lord,  and 
were  determined  to  maintain  the  Methodist  form  of 
worship  in  South  Providence.  Among  them  may  be 
named  D.  J.  Burgess,  J.  A.  Thornton,  A.  W.  Pot- 
ter, Z.  Petterson,  A.  Newberg  and  J.  Pierce.  By 
the  united  effort  of  pastor  and  people  a  measure  of 
prosperity  was  enjoyed  by  the  society. 

In  October,  1863,  Mr.  Winchester,  believing  it  to 
be  his  duty  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country,  re- 
signed his  charge  and  assisted  in  recruiting  a  com- 
pany for  the  12th  Reg't  R.  I.  V.,  and  enlisted  him- 
self in  Company  B.  He  served  in  the  regiment  until 
its  discharge  in  July,  1863. 

In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Winchester  the  charge  was 
supplied  chiefly  by  J.  W.  Bowdish. 


107 

On  the  return  of  Mr.  Winchester  from  the  war, 
he  took  charge  of  the  church  again.  Matters  pro- 
gressed as  prosperously  as  could  well  be  expected 
under  the  circumstances,  until,  without  any  notice, 
their  hall  was  sold  to  the  town  of  Cranston  for  school 
purposes,  and  the  society  was  left,  unexpectedly,  with- 
out a  place  of  worship.  In  this  their  time  of  need, 
the  brethren  of  the  Baptist  Church  extended  to  them 
a  cordial  invitation  to  worship  with  them,  and  to  use 
their  church  for  the  Sunday  School,  until  such  time 
as  they  should  have  a  place  of  their  own.  The  offer 
was  accepted. 

About  the  1st  of  January,  1866,  the  Sons  of 
Temperance  completed  their  large  hall,  which  was 
immediately  hired  by  the  society  at  an  annual  rent  of 
$350.  This  at  once  gave  them  ample  accommoda- 
tions, and  several  were  added  to  the  society. 

Near  the  close  of  1867  Mr.  Winchester  yielded 
to  an  urgent  invitation  to  become  Chaplain  of  the 
Seaman's  Bethel,  Providence,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
doing  so  resigned  his  charge. 

It  is  but  just  to  say,  that  during  the  long  period 
which  Mr.  Winchester  served  this  church  unbroken 
harmony  and  the  best  of  feeling  existed,  and  bonds 
of  Christian  friendship  were  formed  which  will  con- 


108 

tinue  during  life  and  will  doubtless  be  renewed  in 
eternity. 

In  1868  Rev.  S.  T.  Benton  was  appointed  to  this 
charge.  By  the  aid  of  the  "  Domestic  Missionary 
and  Sunday  School  Society,"  organized  by  the  sev- 
eral Methodist  churches  in  Providence,  the  South 
Providence  Church  bids  fair  to  become  a  self-sustain- 
ing as  well  as  vigorous  society. 

This  church  has  always  been  feeble,  and  conse- 
quently has  labored  under  great  embarrassments.  It 
has  done  well  with  the  means  at  its  disposal.  May 
it  long  survive,  with  increasing  prosperity ;  and  as  a 
city  on  a  hill  may  its  light  be  seen  by  many  a  wan- 
derer from  God,  who  shall  rejoice  in  the  light,  hav- 
ing by  it  been  led  to  the  Saviour  of  sinners. 


HISTORY 

OF 

TKINTTY  M.   E.    CHUEOH. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Official  Board  of  Mathewson 
Street  Church,  Dec.  17,  1858,  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens 
proposed  the  establishment  of  a  Methodist  Mission 
in  Lester  Hall,  Cranston  Street.  After  a  careful 
consideration  of  the  subject  it  was  voted  that  unless 
at  least  eight  hundred  dollars  could  be  secured  to 
meet  the  expenses  for  one  year,  they  could  not  ap- 
prove the  enterprise.  A  committee  consisting  of  J. 
L.  Webster,  John  Kendrick  and  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens 
were  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  and  report  the 
result  to  the  Board.  At  the  next  Board  meeting, 
Dec.  27,  the  committee  reported  that  after  securing 
subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  four  hundred  dollars, 
they  had  ceased  their  efforts,  for  the  reason  that  sev- 
eral members  of  the  Board  were  opposed  to  the  en- 
terprise. The  committee  was  therefore  discharged  at 
their  own  request.  Two  weeks  later,  Dr.  G.  S.  Ste- 
vens hired  Lester  Hall  for  three  months  for  Sun- 
days, and  for  Wednesday  evenings,  for  religious  ser- 
•  10 


110 

5,  and  engaged  Rev.  Andrew  McKeown  to  sup- 
ply the  pulpit.  The  first  service — a  prayer  meeting 
— was  held  in  one  of  the  ante-rooms  of  the  hall, 
Jan.  16th,  1859,  at  9  1-2  o'clock,  A.  M.  The 
following  persons  were  present :  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens, 
John  Kendrick,  W.  J.  Martin,  W.  F.  Lawton, 
Sam'l  Robinson,  A.  F.  Hopkins,  C.  W.  Thurber, 
J.  H.  Merideth,  Geo.  H.  Chenery,  Thos.  Seekell, 
Thos.  Barker,  A.  Southwick  and  Rev.  A.  McKeown, 
who  took  charge  of  the  services.  The  meeting  is 
said  to  have  been  one  of  unusual  interest.  Bro. 
McKeown  preached  three  sermons  the  same  day  in 
this  hall,  to  congregations  varying  from  one  to  three 
hundred.  Dr.  Stevens  is  said  to  have  laid  it  down 
as  a  rule  at  this  prayer  meeting,  that  old-fashioned 
Methodist  responses,  such  as  "amen,"  etc.,  would 
always  be  in  order  at  any  tune  during  the  exercises  of 
the  day  and  evening.  Collections  were  taken  at  each 
service,  amounting  to  thirteen  dollars. 

At  the  next  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  Mathew- 
son  Street  Church,  the  preacher  in  charge,  Rev.  F. 
Upham,  brought  up  the  subject  of  this  new  Mission, 
and  the  following  resolution  was,  after  some  discus- 
sion, passed. 


Ill 

RESOLVED,  That  we  legalize  the  enterprise  recently  started 
in  Lester  Hall,  by  certain  members  of  the  Mathewson  Street 
Church,  and  hereby  sanction  the  same. 

A  notice  was  given  Jan.  30th,  that  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath  a  Sunday  School  would  be  organized  to 
take  the  place  of  the  forenoon  service.  At  the  Board 
meeting  of  the  Mathewson  Street  Church  on  the  fol- 
lowing evening,  some  objection  having  been  made  to 
the  organization  of  the  school  as  irregular,  and  with- 
out authority,  after  discussion  it  was  voted  to  com- 
mence the  school,  and  the  following  officers  were 
appointed :  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  Superintendent ; 
Wm.  J.  Martin,  Secretary ;  Charles  A.  Williams, 
Librarian.  John  Kendrick  was  chosen  Treasurer  of 
the  Mission.  It  was  also  voted  to  lend  the  Mission 
School  books  from  the  Mathewson  St.  Library. 

February  6th,  1859,  Rev.  A.  McKeown  opened 
the  services  with  reading  the  Scriptures,  singing  and 
prayer ;  after  which  he  stated  the  action  of  the  Ma- 
thewson Street  Board,  and  announced  the  officers  of 
the  school.  The  officers  proceeded  at  once  to  organ- 
ize the  school  into  classes.  Fourteen  classes  of  chil- 
dren under  fifteen  years  of  age  were  formed.  Two 
Bible  Classes  were  'formed  ;  one  under  the  charge  of 
Rev.  A.  McKeown,  and  the  other  under  the  charge 


112 

of  Nathan  B.  Hall.  There  were  present  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-four,  of  whom,  fifty-two  adults  and 
fifty-seven  children  became  members  of  the  school. 
The  school  increased  rapidly.  On  the  following 
Sunday  there  were  160  present ;  the  third  Sunday 
181;  and  the  fourth  257. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  Bro.  McKeown,  or  some 
other  preacher  from  the  Conference,  should  be  sent  to 
take  charge  of  this  Mission.  But  at  the  session  of 
the  Providence  Conference,  held  in  Fall  Eiver,  March 
30th,  1859,  a  communication  was  received  by  the 
Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  C.  H.  Titus,  from  the  mem- 
bers of  the  official  Board  of  Mathewson  St.  Church, 
to  the  effect  that  they  thought  it  not  desirable  that  a 
minister  should  be  appointed  to  the  Mission,  as  it  had 
not  secured  a  sufficient  number  of  men  of  character 
and  influence  to  warrant  the  attempt  to  form  a  new 
church  organization.  But  at  a  meeting  of  the  friends 
of  the  Mission,  held  the  same  evening,  March  30th, 
it  was  resolved  to  ask  the  Presiding  Elder  to  organ- 
ize them  as  the  Trinity  M.  E.  Church,  and  supply 
them  with  a  preacher.  The  following  petition  was 
drawn  up  and  signed  : 


113 

"PROVIDENCE,  March  30,  1859. 
To  the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Providence  District  of 
the  Providence  Conference  : — 

We  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  Mathewson 
St.  M.  E.  Church  in  this  city,  and  of  other  churches, 
desirous  of  forming  a  new  church  organization  to  be 
known  as  the  Trinity  M.  E.  Church  in  Providencef 
hereby  respectfully  request  the  Providence  Annual 
Conference  to  send  us  a  preacher,  who  may  so  organ- 
ize us  and  serve  us  for  the  ensuing  year.  We  have 
raised  by  subscription  one  thousand  dollars  towards 
defraying  the  expenses  for  one  year. 

We  would  also  respectfully  represent  that  we  have 
a  convenient  place  of  worship,  a  good  congregation, 
and  an  organized  Sunday  School  of  250  members. 

(Signed)  Thomas  H.  Barker,  Mary  A.  Barker, 
Geo.  H.  Chenery,  Marcy  B.  Gould,  Arnold  F.  Hop- 
kins, Charles  F.  Hull,  Caroline  B.  Hull,  Win.  F. 
Lawton,  Martha  B.  Lawton,  Thomas  J.  Monroe, 
Louisa  Monroe,  William  J.  Martin,  Harriet  A. 
Macreading,  Samuel  Robinson,  Andrew  S.  South- 
wick,  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  Hannah  W.  Stevens,  Isa- 
bella Timpson,  Sarah  W.  Walker,  Edna  A.  Lee, 
Betsey  Persons,  Catherine  Benson." 

Wm.   F.   Lawton  and  G.    S.    Stevens  were  ap- 


114 

pointed  a  committee  to  represent  the  Mission  at  the 
Conference. 

In  consequence  of  these  conflicting  representations 
no  preacher  was  appointed  to  the  Mission  by  the  pre- 
siding Bishop — Ames — but  the  whole  matter  was 
referred  to  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  Rev. 
Gr.  M.  Carpenter,  with  authority  to  organize  the 
church  and  supply  the  pulpit. 

It  was  soon  evident  that  a  minister  at  Lester  Hall 
was  a  necessity.  Accordingly  the  next  week,  Rev. 
Wm.  McDonald,  greatly  against  his  wishes,  was 
transferred  from  the  New  England  Conference  and 
stationed  at  Trinity  Church,  or  what  was  to  be ;  or, 
as  one  of  our  Church  papers  had  it — "  transferred  to 
Providence  and  stationed  on  the  Common,  to  dig  or 
die." 

It  would  transcend  the  limits  assigned  to  these 
pages  to  detail  all  the  seeming  Providential  circum- 
stances connected  with  this  arrangement.  It  is 
enough  to  say  that  the  preacher  came,  and  on  the 
24th  of  April,  1859,  commenced  his  labors.  The 
first  sermon  preached  was  from  Acts  10  :  29.  The 
church  was  organized  the  same  day,  consisting  of  34 
members  and  1  probationer.  The  following  were  the 
original  members  : 


115 

Thos.  H.  Barker,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Barker, 

Miss  Mary  A.  Barker,     Geo.  H.  Chenery, 
Laura  M.  Davis,  Thomas  J.  Gardiner, 

Sarah  J.  Griffin,  Nancy  B.  Gould, 

Frances  B.  Gardner,        Amelia  J.  Gardner, 
James  G.  Green,  Hannah  Green, 

Hary  E.  Green,  Arnold  F.  Hopkins, 

Charles  F.  Hull,  Caroline  B.  Hull, 

Win.  F.  Lawton,  Martha  B.  Lawton, 

Wm.  H.  Leavett,  Wm.  J.  Martin, 

Thos.  J.  Monroe,  Louisa  Munroe, 

Harriet  A.  Macreading,  Elizabeth  Persons, 
Samuel  Robinson,  G.  S.  Stevens, 

Hannah  W.  Stevens,       Mary  Slocum, 
Orlando  Smith,  Andrew  S.  Southwick, 

Isabella  Timpson,  Joseph  B.  White, 

Mary  D.  Wickson,  Sarah  M.  Walker. 

Robert  Timpson  was  received  on  probation  the 
same  day. 

The  first  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  May  5th,  1859.  There 
were  present  Rev.  G.  M.  Carpenter,  Presiding  Elder, 
Rev.  Wm.  McDonald,  preacher  in  charge,  Dr.  G. 
S.  Stevens  and  W.  J.  Martin,  Leaders ;  and  Thos. 
J.  Gardiner,  Wm.  F.  Lawton,  Chas.  F.  Hull,  Jas. 


116 

G.  Green  and  Samuel  Robinson,  who  were  appointed 
Stewards. 

OFFICIAL    MEMBERS    FOB   THE  FIRST  YEAR. 

TRUSTEES. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  T.  J.  Gardiner, 

C.  F.  Hull,  S.  A.  Edinond. 

W.  F.  Lawton;   appointed  Dec.  2d,  1859. 

STEWARDS. 

T.  J.  Gardiner,  W.  F.  Lawton, 

C.  F.  Hull,  J.  G.  Green, 

S.  Robinson  ;  appointed  May  5th,  1859. 

T.  H.  Esten,  app.  at  2d  Quarterly  Conference. 

LEADERS. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,          W.  J.  Martin. 

Afterwards,  T.  H.  Esten, 

S.  A.  Edmond,  W.  F.  Lawton. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENT. 

Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens. 

The  church  was  now  fully  organized,  and  in  run- 
ning order.     The  hall,  which  would   accommodate 

O  ' 

some  five  hundred  persons,  was  filled  each  Sabbath. 
The  social  meetings  were  seasons  of  special  interest, 
as  all  seemed  hopeful  and  willing  to  contribute  their 


117         4| 

all  to  the  enterprise.  The  conversion  of  souls  was 
almost  as  frequent  as  Sabbaths,  and  the  Sunday  School 
soon  became,  in  every  respect,  a  model  school,  and 
"  Christian  Hill,"  as  it  was  called  in  derision,  felt  the 
moral  influence  of  this  new  element  of  power  in  their 
midst.  We  were  informed  by  the  Police  that  it  did 
not  require  more  than  half  the  force  to  maintain  order 
in  that  section  of  the  city,  as  it  did  before  this 
church  was  organized.  We  could  give  accounts 
of  many  of  the  most  abandoned  characters  who  were 
reclaimed. 

Our  hall  being  too  small  to  accommodate  the  peo- 
ple who  desired  to  attend,  it  was  thought  best  to 
make  an  effort  to  build  a  more  commodious  house 
of  worship.  Consequently  on  the  15th  of  July, 
1859,  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens  and  Thomas  J.  Gardiner 
were  appointed  a  building  committee  by  the  Quar- 
terly Conference,  to  build  or  procure  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. Wm.  F.  Lawton  was  afterwards  added  to  the 
committee.  Many  locations  were  examined  and  es- 
timates made,  without  any  favorable  results. 

It  here  becomes  our  duty  to  record  faithfully  one 
of  the  most  unpleasant  chapters  in  the  history  of  this 
church ;  a  matter  out  of  which  has  grown  many 
false  representations,  made  through  either  design, 


ignorance  or  forgetfulness,  and  we  could  hope  for 
the  sake  of  Christianity  that  it  were  the  latter. 

Mr.  Perry  Davis,  known  in  all  parts  of  the  world 
as  the  "  Pain  Killer  "  man,  had,  by  the  extensive  sale 
of  his  "Pain  Killer"  amassed  considerable  wealth. 
But  his  liberality  was  beyond  his  income.  Provi- 
dence, in  our  judgment,  has  never  been  blessed  with 
a  man  of  more  generous  impulses.  He  was  a  liberal 
Baptist,  discarding  many  of  the  cardinal  tenets  of  the 
denomination.  He  had  erected  a  substantial  brick 
church  on  Stewart  Street,  at  an  expense  of  some 
$36,000,  in  which  a  Baptist  Church  had  worshiped 
a  number  of  years,  Mr.  Davis  paying  a  large  portion 
of  the  expenses.  He  had  urged  the  church  to  take 
some  steps  to  pay  for  the  house,  or  at  least  a  part  of 
what  it  had  cost  him.  But  thinking  that  Mr.  Davis 
would  finally  give  them  the  property,  no  effort  was 
attempted.  Mr.  Davis  at  last  offered  them  the  whole 
property  for  the  sum  of  $12,000,  giving  them  to 
understand  that  if  this  offer  was  not  accepted  he 
should  dispose  of  the  house.  A  subscription  was 
started,  and  after  a  few  thousands  had  been  subscribed 
was  abandoned. 

Mr.  Davis  becoming  exceedingly  dissatisfied  with 
the  course  taken,  resolved  to  sell  the  house  if  he  could 


119 

find  proper  parties  to  buy.  Stating  his  grievances 
one  day  to  Mr.  Geo.  M.  Butts,  a  well  known  broker 
of  Providence,  through  whom  Mr.  Davis  often  nego- 
tiated loans,  Mr.  Butts  remarked  that  if  he  desired 
to  sell  his  church  he  thought  he  could  find  him  a  pur- 
chaser. He  said  he  would  sell  the  property  for 
$16,000,  four  thousand  more  than  he  had  offered  it 
to  his  own  church.  Mr.  Butts  communicated  the  fact 
to  Dr.  Stevens,  and  he  to  some  of  the  leading  mem- 
^•Hbers  of  the  Trinity  Church.  Mr.  Butts  was  informed 
that  the  Trinity  Church  would  purchase  Mr.  Davis' 
Church  for  the  sum  named.  The  bargain  was  com- 
pleted about  the  20th  of  October. 

The  concurrent  testimony  of  Geo.  M.  Butts,  Esq., 
Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens,  Thos.  J.  Gardiner,  and  the  pas- 
tor of  the  church,  shows  that  up  to  this  time  no 
word  had  been  uttered  with  regard  to  a  "  Free  Church  " 
as  a  condition  of  purchase,  out  of  which,  ostensibly, 
all  the  trouble  arose.  There  had  been  talk  of  a  free 
church,  if  it  could  be  established ;  but  no  word  had 
been  uttered  to  the  effect  that  the  church  should  be 
free,  or  abandoned,  or  that  Mr.  Davis  was  to  own 
one  half  of  the  church,  etc.  As  Mr.  Davis  was  old 
and  infirm,  the  members  of  Trinity  Church  thought 
it  advisable  to  have  some  memorandum  of  the  contract 


120 

with  him ;  consequently,  Thomas  J.  Gardiner 
secured  a  properly  drawn  document,  and  in  company 
with  Dr.  Stevens  called  on  Mr.  Davis,  October  28th, 
in  the  evening,  and  stated  to  him  the  action  of  the 
church  and  what  they  had  done.  Mr.  Davis  ex- 
pressed a  perfect  willingness  to  give  a  bond  for  the 
property.  The  document  was  handed  to  Mr.  Davis, 
who  looked  it  over  and  then  requested  Mr.  Gardiner 
to  read  it,  which  he  did  twice,  Mr.  Davis  suggesting 
some  change  in  the  time  fixed  for  giving  possession,^! 
which  was  done,  and  Mr.  Davis  signed  the  bond. 

About  the  middle  of  November  it  was  reported 
that  Mr.  Davis  had  concluded  not  to  let  the  Trinity 
Church  have  the  house.  In  the  mean  time  every 
effort  was  made  that  could  be  made  to  induce  Mr. 
Davis  to  cancel  his  obligation  to  the  Trinity  Church. 
Committees  were  appointed,  and  grave  Doctors  of 
Divinity  attempted  to  alarm  Mr.  Davis  by  telling 
him  that  a  refusal  to  allow  the  Baptists  to  retain  the 
house  would  seriously  affect  the  sale  of  his  "  Pain 
Killer,"  etc.  On  the  evening  of  Nov.  23d,  the  pas- 
tor, in  connection  with  Dr.  G.  S.  Stevens  and  Thos. 
J.  Gardiner,  called  on  Mr.  Davis  to  ask  an  explana- 
tion of  the  reports.  He  informed  us  frankly  that 
under  no  arrangement  would  he  give  us  a  deed  of 


121 

the  church — that  with  him  the  bargain  was  up,  and 
that  he  should  not  give  us  a  deed  until  he  was  obliged 
to.  The  only  reason  which  he  assigned  for  not  ful- 
filling his  obligation,  was  what  he  claimed  to  be  an 
obligation  on  the  part  of  Trinity  Church  to  make  it 
a  Free  Church,  an  obligation  never  given  directly  or 
indirectly,  and  never  existed  except  in  the  imagination 
of  Mr.  Davis.  He  himself  acknowledged  that  it 

was  not  in  the  contract,  but  it  was  in  his  mind. 

. 
It  is  true  that  the  members  of  Trinity  Church  did 

talk  of,  and  intended  to  make  the  church  free,  but  the 
idea  never  originated  with  Mr.  Davis,  and  was  no 
part  of  the  conditions  of  sale.  It  was  soon  found 
that  Mr.  Davis  had  sold  his  church  to  a  Mr.  John 
W.  Smith,  a  member  of  the  Stewart  Street  Church, 
and  a  clerk  in  Mr.  Davis'  employ,  and  a  man  known 
to  be  worth  no  such  money  as  was  professedly  paid 
for  the  church.  The  whole  transaction  was  an  effort 
to  prevent  the  Trinity  Church  from  securing  then*  just 
.  claim.  In  view  of  Mr.  Davis'  utter  refusal  to  fulfill  his 
obligation ,  there  was  no  other  course  left  to  the  Trin- 
ity church  but  to  resort  to  legal  measures.  This  was 
reluctantly  done.  The  case  was  brought  before  the 
court,  and  decided  in  favor  of  Trinity  Church.  Ap- 
peal was  taken,  and  the  case  was  carried  from  one 
11 


122 

term  of  court  to  another  until  the  fall  of  1863.  Mr. 
Davis  dying  in  the  mean  time,  left  the  matter  in  the 
hands  of  his  heirs.  Such  had  been  the  feeling  in  the 
Baptist  Churches  of  the  State,  and  such  the  long 
controversy,  that  the  Trinity  Church  had  lost  much 
of  their  former  interest  in  the  matter,  and  judged  it 
would  be  for  the  best  to  accept  of  a  proposition  made 
by  Mr.  Davis'  heirs  to  pay  them  $1650,  and  relin- 
quish their  claim  on  the  church.  On  the  3d  of 
March,  1864,  the  long-standing  dispute  was  settled 
upon  these  terms. 

It  is  but  just  to  say  that  the  members  of  Trinity 
Church  never  regarded  Mr.  Davis  as  responsible  as 
some  other  parties  for  this  refusal  to  fulfill  his  written 
obligation.  They  have  always  believed  that  had 
he  been  left  to  act  without  such  influences  being 
brought  to  bear  upon  him  as  would  doubtless  have 
induced  other  men,  with  less  of  the  infirmities  of  age 
and  of  a  more  retentive  memory,  to  have  yielded,  he 
would  have  done  differently.  Mr.  Davis  had  given 
too  many  proofs  of  being  a  sincere,  honest  Christian 
man,  to  allow  us  to  believe  that  he  would  have  been 
guilty  of  a  cool,  deliberate,  intelligent  purpose  to  do 
what  all  honest  men  would  pronounce  a  most  palpa- 
ble wrong.  Mr.  Davis  was  little  more  than  a  machine 


123 

operated  by  other  parties,  who  seemed  determined  to 
carry  their  points  without  reference  to  justice  or  moral 
obligation. 

If  we  have  judged  men  and  motives  incorrectly,  or 
if  others  have  acted  without  reference  to  justice,  be- 
lieving that  the  end  would  justify  the  means,  may  a 
merciful  God  forgive  us  for  false  judging  on  the  one 
hand,  and  from  unjust  action  on  the  other. 

The  success  which  attended  the  efforts  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Trinity  for  the  first  two  years  was  all  that 
could  have  been  anticipated.  The  membership  at  the 
close  of  the  second  year  was  185  ;  an  increase  of  150 
in  two  years. 

In  1861  Rev.  "W.  F.  Farrington  was  transferred 
from  the  Maine  to  the  Providence  Conference,  and 
became  pastor  of  this  church.  He  remained  two 
years.  The  society  continued  to  prosper,  and  num- 
bered at  the  close  of  Mr.  Farrington's  term,  in  full 
and  on  trial,  225. 

In  1863  Rev.  James  D.  Butler  became  the  pastor, 
and  remained  three  years.  Bro.  Butler  was  cordially 
received  by  the  society,  and  entered  upon  his  work 
with  his  usual  diligence  and  energy. 

In  the  fall  of  1863  the  society  began  to  consider 
how  they  should  bring  their  unhappy  church  contro- 


124 

versy  with  Mr.  Davis  to  an  end.  It  was  proposed 
to  make  it  a  subject  of  prayer.  At  a  Board  meeting 
held  in  January,  1864,  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  wait  upon  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Davis  and  propose  a 
settlement ;  and  on  the  3d  of  March  following  the 
matter  was  arranged  and  settled  between  the  two 
churches,  as  formerly  stated. 

Mr.  Butler  reported  at  the  close  of  his  first  year, 
members  and  probationers,  210.  With  this  falling 
off  in  the  membership  from  the  last  year,  there  were 
still  forty-eight  converted  under  his  labors.  The 
general  impression  prevailed  that  a  new  church  should 
be  erected  on  Cranstan  Street.  But  it  was  proposed 
to  make  it  a  subject  of  prayer ;  "and  we  think,"  says 
Eev.  Mr.  Butler,  "  that  in  answer  to  prayer  we  were 
directed  to  the  best  location  in  the  city  of  Providence," 
which  is  the  one  the  church  now  occupies. 

Excavations  were  commenced  for  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  the  new  church,  March  26th,  1864.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  June  24th,  1864,  with  impos- 
ing Masonic  ceremonies.  Prayer  by  the  Rev.  W. 
McDonald,  and  an  address  by  Rev.  S.  Dean.  The 
church  was  commenced  with  the  understanding  that 
it  should  be  free,  and  should  cost  about  $12,000. 
But  in  consequence  of  the  rise  in  the  price  of  mate- 


125 

rial  and  labor,  it  was  soon  found  that  it  would  cost 
much  more  than  at  first  contemplated.  In  the  fall 
of  1864  the  Trustees  commenced  holding  Trustee 
prayer  meetings.  They  met  at  Dr.  Stevens',  and 
after  hearing  from  him  that,  financially,  they  were  in 
a  bad  condition,  it  was  proposed  that  before  entering 
upon  business  they  should  each  offer  prayer.  They 
accordingly  knelt  and  began  to  cry  to  God ;  "  and 
such  manifestations  of  divine  power,"  says  Rev.  Mr. 
Butler,  who  was  present,  "were  scarcely  ever  wit- 
nessed before.  Very  soon  after  this  we  obtained 
some  heavy  subscriptions.  So  we  continued  to  pray 
and  work." 

The  house  was  completed  and  dedicated  May  31st, 
1865.  Sermon  by  Rev.  M.  L.  Scudder,  D.  D. 

Mr.  Butler  remarks  at  this  point,  that  "  from  the 
very  beginning  until  now,  the  enterprise  has  been 
carried  on  by  prayer  and  faith."  And  while  they 
adhered  to  that  policy  God  aided  them,  but  when  that 
course  was  abandoned,  progress  was  at  an  end. 

It  becomes  necessary  here  to  record  another  un- 
happy chapter  in  the  history  of  this  church.  Dr. 
G.  S.  Stevens,  who  had  been  the  prime  mover 
in  this  enterprise  from  the  first,  and  who  had  done 
more  than  any  other  man  to  promote  its  interests, 


126 

became,  about  this  time,  disaffected.  It  is  due  the 
doctor  to  say,  that  had  it  not  been  for  his  indomitable 
perseverance  and  almost  superhuman  efforts,  the 
church  would  never  have  been  built,  nor  would  the 
society  have  had  an  existence  at  all ;  and  his  subse- 
quent course  was  a  cause  of  great  sorrow  to  his 
friends. 

It  was  sometime  during  the  month  of  September  of 
this  year,  that  Dr.  Stevens  commenced  reading  the 
proof-sheets  of  a  book  entitled  "  The  Constitution  of 
Man,"  by  Dr.  Hatch.  It  was  evident  to  his  friends 
that  the  reading  of  this  book  had  a  powerful  effect 
upon  his  mind,  as  well  as  his  views  and  feelings  in 
regard  to  Trinity  Church.  He  was  soon  heard  to 
say  that  he  had  lost  all  interest  in  the  church,  and 
did  not  care  whether  the  house  was  paid  for  or  not. 
He  remarked  one  day  to  the  pastor,  Rev.  Mr.  Butler, 
that  the  house  would  have  to  be  sold  and  go  into 
other  hands.  Mr.  Butler  says:  "I  went  home  and 
laid  the  subject  before-  the  Lord,  and  obtained  an 
answer  which  I  delivered  to  the  doctor  the  next  day. 
I  said,  'Doctor,  that  house  will  not  go  out  of  our 
hands.  The  Lord  gave  us  that  location  in  answer  to 
prayer.  He  gave  it  to  Trinity  Church,  and  it  will 
never  go  out  of  their  hands.'  The  doctor  replied, 


127 

'The  church  will  be  sold,  and  I  shall  go  with  it.'" 
The  sequel  shows  who  was  the  true  prophet. 

That  the  doctor  had  the  best  interests  of  Trinity 
Church  at  heart,  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  and  that  he 
labored  to  build  up  that  church  and  Sunday  School, 
as  few  men  have  labored,  there  is  the  clearest  evi- 
dence. That  he  became  infatuated  by  certain  per- 
sons, and  that  through  those  influences  came  very  near 
swamping  the  church,  there  is  no  question.  While 
great  credit  is  due  Dr.  Stevens  for  his  almost  unpar- 
alleled efforts  in  establishing  Trinity  Church,  and  se- 
curing the  erection  of  their  present  house  of  worship, 
it  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  should  have  finally  taken 
the  course  he  did. 

Providentially,  about  this  time,  Dexter  N.  Knight, 
a  member  of  Chestnut  St.  Church,  was  induced  to 

leave  and  unite  with  Trinity.  He  was  a  God-send 
to  the  society,  for  it  is  the  belief  of  the  writer,  that 
had  not  this  event  occurred  the  church  edifice  must 
have  been  sold  and  the  society  scattered.  Mr.  Knight 
took  charge  of  the  Sunday  School,  at  this  time  num- 
bering more  than  400  members,  and  which  under 
the  superintendency  of  Dr.  Stevens  had  become  the 
model  school  of  Providence,  and  carried  it  forward 
with  remarkable  ability  and  success. 


128 

Here  closes  Mr.  Butler's  three  years  with  this 
church.  They  had  been  years  of  trial  and  triumph 
to  both  pastor  and  people.  But  no  man  was  more 
honored  and  beloved  by  his  people  than  was  Mr. 
Butler.  He  left  the  society  in  a  very  delightful  relig- 
ious state,  with  a  revival  in  progress.  There  were  in 
society  184  members,  and  46  probationers. 

In  1866  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela  was  appointed  to  Trinity 
Church,  and  commenced  his  labors  Sunday,  April 
1st.  Such  was  the  financial  embarrassment  of  the 
church  that  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Provi- 
dence Conference  on  the  subject,  who  reported  in 
favor  of  appropriating  one  half  the  Conference  col- 
lections for  the  Church  Extension  Society,  to  the 
amount  of  $7,000,  for  its  relief.  It  was  soon  found 
that  the  church  was  in  debt  more  than  $28,000. 
There  were  bills  against  the  Sunday  School  amount- 
ing to  about  $800 ;  the  whole,  with  the  interest 
thereon,  amounting  to  more  than  $30,000.  The  so- 
ciety had  paid,  up,  to  this  time,  to  the  utmost  of  their 
ability,  nearly  all  the  members  being  poor. 

The  Methodist  churches  of  Providence,  seeing  the 
perilous  condition  of  Trinity,  rallied  to  save  it.  A 
meeting  of  the  friends  of  the  enterprise  was  called  at 
Chestnut  St.  Church,  April  8th.  All  the  churches 


129 

gave  up  their  meetings  in  favor  of  this.  Rev.  M.  Traf- 
ton  presided.  A  statement  of  the  condition  of  Trinity 
was  made ;  after  which  several  ministers  and  laymen 
addressed  the  meeting,  and  subscriptions  to  the  amount 
of  $17,000  were  made.  This  was  a  good  beginning. 
Subscriptions  were  subsequently  procured  by  D.  N. 
Knight,  and  the  pastor,  Rev.  D.  H.  Ela.  But  little 
more  was  done  until  the  summer  of  1867,  when  stren- 
uous efforts  were  made  to  complete  the  work.  In 
December  of  this  year  the  pastor  laid  the  case  before 
a  meeting  of  the  official  boards  of  the  several  churches 
in  the  city.  By  the  favorable  and  generous  action  of 
the  meeting,  arrangements  were  made  by  which  the 
entire  amount  was  provided  for. 

Of  these  subscriptions  D.  N.  Knight  contributed 
$5,100,  Hezekiah  Anthony  1,500,  Jeremiah  Knight 
1,000,  John  Kendrick  650,  James  Davis  600,  W. 
S.  Huntoon  550,  A.  and  W.  Sprague  500,  Trinity 
Sunday  School  1,500,  Mathewson  Street  Sunday  ' 
School  375,  etc.  And  thus  the  workt  was  com- 
pleted "  because  the  people  had  a  mind  to  work'." 
Taking  it  all  in  all,  this  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
church  enterprises  ever  undertaken  in  New  England.* 

Notwithstanding  these   financial  embarrassments, 

the  spiritual  interests  of  the  church  were  not  suffere , 

d 


130 

to  languish.  The  revival  which  commenced  under 
Bro.  Butler  continued  with  remarkable  power.  At 
the  close  of  Mr.  Ela's  first  year -there  were  238  mem- 
bers and  50  probationers ;  and  at  the  close  of  his 
second  year  there  were  250  members  and  38  proba- 
tioners. The  Sunday  School  numbers  560  members, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  more  than  400.  It  has 
been  pre-eminently  a  revival  school  through  its  whole 
history.  It  has  been  the  scene  of  some  of  the  most 
blessed  manifestations  of  the  power  of  God. 

Here  we  must  conclude  our  somewhat  extended 
history  of  Trinity  Church.  It  had  a  providential  ori- 
gin, as  it  has  had  a  remarkable  history.  It  has  been 
one  of  the  most  earnest,  laborious  and  successful 
churches  ever  established  in  the  city  of  Providence. 
May  it  long  continue  to  proclaim  a  free  salvation,  and 
gather  in  from  the  lanes  and  highways  of  the  city 
the  neglected  and  the  unsaved  ;  and  in  eternity  may 
it  be  known  that  many  were  born  for  glory  here. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  : 

LEADERS. 

A.  E.  Lilley,  T.  H.  Esten, 

O.  H.  Fernald,  W.  F.  Cady, 

A.  D.  Litchfield,         J.  Gaddis. 


» 


131 


STEWARDS. 

A.  D.  Litchfield,  P.  Bennett, 

G.  H.  Cook,  D.  N.  Knight, 

G.  H.  Chenery,  Jas.  G.  Green. 
J.  Collins, 

TRUSTEES. 

A.  R.  Lilley,  George  H.  Cook, 

D.  N.  Knight,  T.  H.  Esten, 

A.  D.  Litchfield,  J.  Collins, 

P.  Bennett,  E.  Curtis, 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENT. 

D.  N.  Knight. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church,  including 
probationers,  is  281. 


HISTORY 

OF 

ASBURY  M.   E.    CHURCH. 


The  Asbury  M.  E.  Church,  located  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city  of  Providence, — called  hi  the  Min- 
utes of  the  Providence  Conference  for  1868,  Asbury 
Mission, — is  the  youngest  branch  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  this  city.  Its  origin  was  on  this  wise : 
After  a  careful,  earnest  and  prolonged  discussion  by 
the  Union  Board, — composed  of  official  members  of 
the  several  Methodist  churches  in  the  city, — of  various 
plans  for  Church  Extension ,  a  committee  of  three  was 
appointed,  viz  :  Rev.  J.  Livesey,  T.  J.  Gardiner  and 
J.  Burton,  to  ascertain  if  any  convenient  room  or 
hall  could  be  procured  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city 
for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  Sunday  School  and  other 
religious  services.  After  diligent  inquiry,  the  com- 
mittee reported  that  the  Mooshausic  Engine  Room, 
on  Mill  Street  was  unoccupied  and  could  be  procured. 
Application  was  made  to  the  municipal  authorities, 
and  permission  was  obtained  to  occupy  the  room  for 
the  purposes  desired. 


133 

Friday  evening,  March  13,  1868,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  members  and  friends  of  Methodism  residing  in 
that  section  of  the  city,  held  in  the  Engine  Room,  it 
was  resolved  to  proceed  immediately  to  gather  and 
organize  a  Sunday  School ;  and  further,  to  establish 
such  other  religious  services  as  they  might  be  ablb  to 
maintain.  Sunday,  March  22d,  at  9  A.  M.,  a 
few  devoted  and  earnest  Christians  gathered  at  the 
place  to  invoke  the  divine  blessing  upon  the  new  en- 
terprise. At  10  1-2  A.  M.,  76  adults  and  children 
were  enrolled  and  arranged  into  classes,  under  the  su- 
perintency  of  J.  C.  Jacobs,  of  the  Broadway  M.  E. 
Church.  At  3  P.  M.,  a  congregation  of  about  130 
assembled  to  liston  to  the  opening  sermon,  preached 
by  Rev.  J.  Livesey,  of  the  Power  St.  Church.  At 
7  P.  M.  an  excellent  prayer  meeting  was  held.  The 
divine  presence  was  powerfully  manifested,  and  heaven 
seemed  to  smile  approvingly  upon  this  new  effort  for 
the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  So  en- 
couraging had  been  the  indications  in  all  these  ser- 
vices, that  it  was  decided  to  apply  at  once  to  the 
Providence  Conference,  to  assemble  that  week,  for  the 
appointment  of  a  pastor  to  the  charge.  Rev.  J. 
Livesey  was  appointed,  and  entered  at  once  upon  his 
labors. 


134 

Sunday,  April  5, 1868,  the  Asbury  M.  E.  Church 
was  organized,  consisting  of  26  members  and  7  pro- 
bationers— total,  33.  During  the  first  three  months 
the  membership  nearly  doubled ;  and  there  is  every 
prospect  that  the  church  will  soon  become  self-sus- 
taining and  one  of  the  most  prosperous  in  the  city. 
They  have  as  yet  no  house  of  worship,  but  active 
steps  are  being  taken  for  the  immediate  erection  of  a 
chapel,  which  shall  accommodate  the  church  and  Sun- 
day School ;  and  it  is  confidently  expected  that  very 
soon  they  will  sit  "beneath  their  own  vine  and  fig- 
tree,"  to  worship  Him  who  has  thus  far  so  signally 
prospered  their  enterprise. 

The  officers  of  the  church  and  society  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

TRUSTEES,   ELECTED   APRIL   21.   1868. 

Morris  Deming,  George  W.  Cady, 

Philip  B.  Stiness,        Jason  A.  Bidwell. 
John  Burton, 

STEWARDS,   ELECTED   APRIL   21,   1868. 

Morris  Deming,  James  C.  Jacobs, 

John  Burton,  W.  H.  White, 

W.  T.  Morehead,        John  W.  Foster. 


135 

CLASS   LEADERS,    ELECTED   APEIL   21,   1868. 

John  W.  Foster,          Morris  Deming, 
James  C.  Jacobs,        David  Taylor. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE   SUNDAY   SCHOOL. 

J.  C.  Jacobs,  Superintendent. 

J.  Burton,  Assistant  Sup. 

P.  B.  Stiness,  Jr.,       Sec'ry  and  Treasurer. 
C.  K.  Melville,  Librarian. 

D' Wolff,  Assistant  Lib. 

Vols.  in  Library,  400. 


CONCLUSION. 

We  have  faithfully  traced  the  history  of  Methodism 
in  Providence,  from  its  introduction  by  the  devoted, 
the  indomitable  Freeborn  Garrettson,  in  1787,  to  the 
eighty-first  year  of  its  existence.  We  have  noted  its 
mustard-seed-like  origin  and  feeble  growth  ;  —  the 
multiplied  difficulties  it  has  had  to  encounter  from  the 
poverty  of  its  friends  and  the  opposition  of  its  ene- 
mies ;  and  yet  we  have  seen  it  outlive  and  outgrow 
all  these  discouragements,  until  the  little  one  has  be- 


136 

come  a  thousand,  and  the  handful  of  corn  in  the 
earth  in  the  top  of  the  mountain  is  beginning  to  shake 
like  Lebanon ;  and  Methodism,  once  dishonored,  re- 
viled and  scouted,  emerging  from  "  alley"  and  "  kitch- 
en," to  occupy  a  respectable,  yea,  honorable  position 
among  the  long  standing  churches  of  the  city  of  Roger 
Williams.  May  its  members  never  forget  the  hole  of 
the  pit  whence  they  were  digged,  but  ever  learn  to 
give  all  glory  to  Him  who  has  made  them  all  they  are ; 
and  may  past  successes  stimulate  to  renewed  efforts 
to  "spread  scriptural  holiness,"  until  the  "kingdoms  of 
this  world  shall  become  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and 
of  his  Christ.  Then  shall  one  like  unto  the  Son  of 
Man  be  ever  found  walking  in  the  midst  of  these 
"  seven  golden  candlesticks  "  to  make  them  lights  of 
supernatural  brilliancy,  and  protect  them  from  the 
hand  of  him  who  would  extinguish  their  burning. 


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